Cape Verde has received official certification from the World Health Organization (WHO) as a malaria-free country, making it the third nation in the WHO African region to achieve this status after Mauritius and Algeria.

The certification is granted when a country proves, with robust evidence, the interruption of indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes nationwide for at least the past three consecutive years.

Cape Verde’s achievement is significant, given the high malaria burden in Africa, where about 95% of global malaria cases and 96% of related deaths were reported in 2021.

The WHO certification is anticipated to have positive impacts on Cape Verde’s development, including the ability to combat other mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever and enhance socio-economic activities, particularly in a country where tourism contributes around 25% to the GDP.

WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, commended the dedication and resilience of Cape Verde’s government and people, expressing optimism about the potential for a malaria-free world through existing tools and new advancements, including vaccines.