The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has awarded prizes to projects in Brazil, Haiti and the Dominican Republic for their efforts at the local level to stop the transmission of malaria.

In the case of Haiti, PAHO has awarded a binational project between the border municipalities of Ouanaminthe and Dajabón in the Dominican Republic, for their "outstanding achievements" and their "creative response" in the fight against malaria.

PAHO emphasizes that Ouanaminthe and Dajabón use "innovative technologies that involve the private sector, community and traditional health workers to improve surveillance, diagnosis and treatment of malaria in both countries".

The Pan American Organization will award the "Champions Against Malaria in the Americas" Awards at the occasion of the Malaria Day in the Americas, which will take place on Monday, November 6th.

According to PAHO, malaria is endemic in 21 countries in the Americas (including Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and the majority of cases are contracted in the Amazon region. Although the number of malaria cases and deaths decreased by more than 60% between 2000 and 2015, and 19 of the 21 endemic countries experienced significant reductions in these rates, in 2016 and 2017 there are had an increase in reported cases. Francisco Becerra, Deputy Director of PAHO, said that this resurgence in some countries "shows that achievements are fragile".

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-21808-icihaiti-malaria-nets-distribution-campaign.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13271-haiti-health-$29-9m-to-eliminate-malaria-by-2020.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-5572-haiti-health-sophia-martelly-engages-in-the-fight-against-malaria.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2848-haiti-health-sms-and-malaria.html

SL/ HaitiLibre