Abstract
BackgroundSuriname has moved from being the country with the highest annual parasite index in the Americas to one on the threshold of elimination. The progress toward elimination in the stable populations of Suriname between 2000 and 2015 is reviewed.MethodsData was obtained from the Medical Mission and the Ministry of Health Malaria Programme case-reporting systems, and analysed with a focus on disease burden and differentiation of the disease geographically, by malaria species, age, gender, ethnicity, incidence and gametocytaemia.ResultsBetween 2000 and 2015 there were 57,811 locally acquired cases of malaria in the stable populations of Suriname. A significant reduction in indigenous malaria cases was observed from 2006 to 2015. The number of imported malaria cases saw a relative increase compared to the number of autochthonous cases. In 2015 over 95% of the cases reported in stable communities are imported, mainly from neighbouring French Guiana, a department of France. The overall decline in malaria case incidence followed the mass-distribution of free long-lasting insecticide-impregnated mosquito nets and increased awareness building efforts, improved access to malaria services as a result of the introduction of Rapid Diagnostic Tests and the implementation of active case detection in high risk areas. In addition, improved management of Plasmodium falciparum infections was achieved with the introduction of artemisinin combination therapy.ConclusionsThe existence of a network of policlinics in the interior ran by Medical Mission, for the indigenous population, allowed the rapid implementation of the strategy in stable communities. The success of malaria control in Suriname indicates that the availability at local level, of prompt and adequate prevention, diagnosis and treatment is a key requirement for the elimination of malaria.
Highlights
Suriname has moved from being the country with the highest annual parasite index in the Americas to one on the threshold of elimination
Since 2006 Suriname experienced a significant decrease in malaria incidence, reaching near elimination levels by 2009 [6,7,8]
Interventions The chronology and scope of the implementation of major malaria prevention and control interventions by the Medical Mission is described and discussed in relation to the reported malaria incidence. Both the Maroon and Amerindian communities experienced a reduction in malaria incidence over the study period
Summary
Suriname has moved from being the country with the highest annual parasite index in the Americas to one on the threshold of elimination. Malaria incidence in the world decreased with 41% between 2000 and 2015. About 212 million malaria cases and 429,000 deaths occurred in 2015 worldwide [1]. In the region of the Americas the number of confirmed malaria cases decreased from 1.2 million in 2000 to 390,000 in 2014 [2, 3]. Suriname (Fig. 1) was responsible for the highest concentration of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the Americas prior to 2006 [4]. Since 2006 Suriname experienced a significant decrease in malaria incidence, reaching near elimination levels by 2009 [6,7,8]. The van Eer et al Malar J (2018) 17:56
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