Roll Back Malaria in the Transcaucasian countries and Turkey 2002-2005

2001 In the 1960’s-1970’s, malaria was eradicated in Armenia and Georgia. The disease was never completely eradicated, however, in some parts of the southern frontiers of the former Soviet Union and Turkey. Throughout the 1970’s and the beginning of the 1980’s, epidemics of malaria were registered in several districts of Azerbaijan. Though epidemics of malaria were contained, it proved impossible to achieve the complete interruption of malaria in the above–mentioned countries.

At the beginning of the 1990’s, the residual reservoir of malaria infection, aggravated by the political and socioeconomic situation, mass population movements, the execution of extensive development projects, and an almost complete cessation of activities for malaria control and prevention combined to constitute conditions favorable for the reestablishment of malaria transmission. As a result, large-scale epidemics and outbreaks of malaria swept through Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia. In recent years, the malaria situation in Georgia has also significantly deteriorated. National Roll Back Malaria Projects will support the countries in building RBM partnerships and working together in the promotion of health-related actions to reduce the incidence of malaria and its burden, containing ongoing outbreaks, and preventing the further spread of malaria.