El Salvador becomes the first Central American country to be the malaria-free country in the region, and the country’s success in meeting one of the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria Goal contributes to the shrinking of global malaria coverage. The World Health Organization has certified El Salvador as the 21st country since 2000 that has safeguarded the crucial three consecutive years of zero indigenous malaria cases in the country.
El Salvador’s data-driven malaria eradication strategy prioritized case management and vector control and relied on an enhanced surveillance system with support from an extensive diagnostic network of over 5000 community health workers. This network of health workers ensures the identification and treatment of every malaria case and controls the spread of other infectious diseases.
El Salvador’s fight against malaria has been majorly funded by domestic resources while global partners such as the WHO, Inter-American Development Bank, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, and some others have provided critical technical support, few important resources, and made key interventions that accelerated the whole project. Nation’s commitment and success to fight this deadly, preventable disease has highlighted decades of progress from being undermined by the COVID-19 pandemic and protects two decades of global efforts that have to save around 7.5 million lives and prevented around 1.5 cases of malaria.
El Salvador’s journey from a malaria hotspot to a malaria-free country shows how sustained investment in malaria invention and community healthcare infrastructure can get a country to new heights. The country truly sets an inspiring example for the world and demonstrated that the end of malaria is possible. This achievement contributes to global success that has dramatically reduced the burden and put the world on the path to ending malaria and other deadly diseases.
