As part of the activities surrounding Malaria Day in the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) awarded the "Champions of Malaria of the Americas" Prize for 2020 to 6 municipalities from 4 countries (Brazil, Colombia, Haiti and Honduras).

This Prize recognizes their work in applying effective and safe antimalarial interventions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Videos illustrating each of the winners' projects were posted on the forum, titled "Zero malaria begins with me".

Among the winning projects 2 are in Brazil, "Atalaia do Norte" and "Oeiras do Pará", 1 in Colombia in Quibdó, 2 in Haiti, in the localities of the English and Les Irois, and 1 in Honduras, in Puerto Lempira.

In Haiti, two municipalities with a high burden of malaria, Les Anglais (South Dept.) and Les Irois (Grand'Anse Dept.) have been nominated malaria champions for effective planning and strong partnerships using a community health worker approach to reduce their burden of malaria.

The awards were presented based on the decisions of a jury chaired by Karen A. Goraleski, President and CEO of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Remember that malaria is a deadly disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. About half of the world's population is at risk of malaria, especially in low-income countries. In the Americas, 132 million people live in areas at risk of malaria.

IH/ iciHaiti