Elimination of malaria from Sri Lanka and beyond; lessons for other countries in elimination phase

Abstract

Elimination of malaria in 2012 was a major achievement in post-independent Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka missed a golden opportunity in 1963 when only 17 cases of malaria were reported in the country, but could not sustain the momentum resulting in a major resurgence in 1967/69. With the resurgence, the then malaria eradication programme was reverted back to a control programme that lasted for another 30 years. The WHO’s Roll Back Malaria Initiative launched in 1998 provided a renewed interest in malaria control and subsequent elimination. With targeted control activities, the burden of malaria started to decrease since year 2000. Although Sri Lanka had reached pre-elimination status as early as 2004, the ongoing separatist war at that time prevented a country-wide elimination drive being implemented. With cessation of hostilities in 2009 and Global Fund financing, both of which were crucial inputs, an elimination drive was launched in September 2009 which eventually eliminated indigenous malaria in November 2012 with malaria-free certification by WHO being obtained in September 2016. Since malaria elimination, the country forged on to the prevention of re-establishment phase primarily focusing on good public health practice that included intensified surveillance, both parasitological and entomological; quality assured diagnostic and treatment services; and advocacy at various levels including doctors. Despite these measures, an introduced case and a transfusion induced case of malaria have been reported. A new vector of urban malaria, Anopheles stephensi, was reported in December 2016. Prevention of re-establishment of malaria should be kept in the radar of public health until malaria is eradicated.