Cross-border meeting for central Asian countries and Afghanistan (Tajikistan, November 2006)

2007 The meeting took place following the endorsement of the Tashkent Declaration “The Move from Malaria Control to Elimination” and the Kabul Declaration “Health for All. Health by All: Communicable Diseases Recognize No Borders”. The ultimate goal of the new strategy, which has recently been published, is to interrupt the transmission of malaria by 2015 and eliminate the disease within affected countries of the WHO European Region. In areas and countries where malaria had been eliminated, attention is given to maintaining the malaria-free status. The reduction in the number of P. falciparum malaria cases by more than ten-fold over the past six years (2000–2005) is the most conspicuous achievement of the regional malaria programme to date.

The main purpose for organizing the meeting was to outline a strategic direction towards undertaking the new elimination effort within malaria-affected countries of central Asia, and to enhance cross-border cooperation in the field of malaria control and elimination between central Asian countries and Afghanistan. The results achieved by countries, WHO and partners were greatly appreciated, and the countries of central Asia reaffirmed their commitment to move further from malaria control to elimination, with the aim to interrupt the transmission of P. falciparum malaria in central Asia by 2010. Participants also emphasized the need to promote inter-regional collaboration and coordination between the WHO European and Eastern Mediterranean Regions on issues related to malaria control and elimination, and to ensure that their bordering countries, in particular Tajikistan and Afghanistan, are fully supported in the endeavours to achieve the stated objectives.