Azerbaijan and Tajikistan : Malaria-Free Countries

Azerbaijan and Tajikistan : Malaria-Free Countries

Azerbaijan and Tajikistan were declared malaria-free by the WHO.

• The governments of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan employed targeted malaria interventions, such as spraying insecticides on the interior walls of homes to prevent the disease, encouraging early diagnosis and treatment and maintenance of skilled healthcare professionals.
• This came as the result of an extensive century-long campaign by the two nations to eradicate the disease.
• Malaria is a serious and life-threatening disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite and transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito.
• The declaration by the WHO that Azerbaijan and Tajikistan are malaria-free is a significant achievement for the two nations.
• 41 countries and one territory, including 21 countries in the European Region, have been declared as malaria-free by the World Health Organization.
• Azerbaijan and Tajikistan’s achievement brings the WHO European Region two steps closer to becoming the first region in the world to be fully malaria-free.