Paraguay - IOM Paraguay this week launched a project as part of the National Strategic Plan for the Certification of the Elimination and Prevention of Re-introduction of Malaria in Paraguay 2015-2019.

The project, financed by the Global Fund, aims to strengthen epidemiological vigilance in health services to avoid the reintroduction of the disease within the country.

The project: “Strengthening the National Strategy for Prevention of Malaria Reintroduction in Paraguay – Certification Process of Malaria Free Country” – was inaugurated at the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare of Paraguay (MPHSW).

The launch was attended by Minister of Health Dr. Antonio Barrios; Representative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Dr. Carlos Castillo, and IOM Paraguay Head of Office Richard Velázquez.

The USD 2,782,936 project will implement activities over the next three years. IOM will be responsible for the administration of the funds in close coordination with the MPHSW. PAHO has offered its permanent technical assistance for the development of the project with national and international experts.

PAHO representative Dr. Castillo said that Paraguay is privileged to initiate the process of certification of malaria elimination. Thanks to the government’s efforts, some 5,000 volunteers will perform all the epidemiological surveillance throughout the country.

IOM Paraguay Head of Office Richard Velázquez highlighted the importance of the project. “Certifying a country free from a disease not only has implications for the public health system, but also contributes to the country’s image at the international level,” he said.

Although there were no native cases of malaria recorded in Paraguay during 2007-2014, over 70 cases of the disease were identified from endemic countries during the period. This project will therefore have a special focus on mobile populations.

For further information please contact Eduardo Carrillo at IOM Paraguay, Tel: +595 21 615 670, Email: ecarrillo@iom.int. Or Juliana Quintero at the IOM Regional Office in Argentina, Tel: +54 1132 488134, Email: juquintero@iom.int