As part of the drafting of a renewed National Strategic Plan for the Elimination of Malaria, several stakeholders attended a workshop. “Although malaria elimination in Suriname is getting closer, the risk of reintroduction remains high,” says Helene Hiwat, malaria program coordinator. This activity took place on December 23, 2022 at the Oxygen Resort.
The plan is critically important for Suriname to maintain its malaria-free status. Maintaining this status for three consecutive years will result in Suriname being certified as “malaria-free”. “This has added value for tourists because they can travel inland with less risk,” said Health Minister Amar Ramadhin.
In the updated strategy, the emphasis will be more on regional cooperation, because practice has shown that import cases are the main problem. The strategy will further focus on prevention and reintroduction prevention, which is also a criterion for certification.
Minister Ramadhin stresses that it is a special achievement for Suriname to be malaria-free before 2022. This would not have been possible without the efforts of the actors involved in the health sector. This is because Suriname was the country with the highest number of malaria reports in the region some 25 years ago and has only managed to register zero cases this year.
Additionally, donations from various donors have played a crucial role in achieving this milestone. This session was attended by doctors and healthcare professionals.
