Prevention of cross-border transmission of malaria (Azerbaijan, August 1999)

1999 Problems with malaria in the majority of participating countries are clustered in areas with inadequate health infrastructures resulting from the interaction of various factors, sometimes aggravated by insecticide-resistant vectors and drug-resistant parasites. In general, the problems are compounded by uncontrolled large-scale population movement, non-rational use of antimalarial drugs and the lack or ineffective vector control.

The review of the malaria situation at the coordination meeting indicated that the majority of participating countries share common epidemiological features of malaria, so the countries represented agreed to institutionalize the collaborative programme on malaria in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean and European regions, particularly in border areas. Participating countries are expected to exchange timely standardized epidemiological information, which can be linked to province and district maps.

This information will facilitate the harmonization of the timing, location and methods of antimalaria measures in both regions. The participants requested WHO, through the new initiative Roll Back Malaria, to continue its support for disease management, selective vector control, and the prediction, early detection and control of malaria epidemics. WHO was also requested to support capacity building and operational research.