Malaria-free certification for Lanka next year?

by Carol Aloysius

Sri Lanka will be eligible to apply to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for Malaria Free Certification if it can remain malaria free for one more year Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena told the media on Friday, at the Galle Face Hotel.

Sri Lanka had over 100,000 Malaria cases in 2000. However, since October 2012, the Anti Malaria Campaign (AMP) had drastically reduced the number of indigenous cases to zero, after launching a vigourous campaign in 2009 to contain the disease.

Director General Health Services Dr P.G. Maheepala said although Sri Lanka was now malaria free, there was a likelihood of the disease re-emerging. "Tourists and Sri Lankan expatriates working abroad or domiciled in countries with high malaria risk could bring the infection here, causing it to re-emerge among the indigenous population.

In such an event the consequences will be disastrous as the malaria carrying vectors had developed resistance to many chemicals used at present. We have set up screening facilities to screen Malaria cases at airports and distribute prophylactics to anyone visiting a malaria risk country prior to departure and on their return.