Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by a parasitic micro-organism called Plasmodium falciparum. If left untreated, the disease is fatal in many cases. Since the beginning of the last century, Suriname is actively fighting Malaria. In the coastal areas of the country, the disease almost completely disappeared, but the rugged inlands were still plagued by the parasites.Click here to change this text

Malaria in Suriname fell from more than 15,000 cases to less than 500 cases per year. Suriname has achieved significant reduction in Malaria incidence by funding efforts to test for malaria, treat malaria, track malaria and prevent malaria. In the last decade, with support from the Global Fund, Suriname has reached the RBM and the Millennium Development Goals for Malaria.Click here to change this text

The current “Towards Malaria Elimination: Expanding Test, Track, and Treat in Mining Areas” grant is based on the Suriname National Malaria Strategic Plan, and is 100% focused on the control and potential elimination of Malaria in the gold-mining areas. It relies heavily on the expansion of Test and Treat through the creation of a network of mobile Malaria Service Deliverers (MSDs), mobile medical units, and fixed health posts delivering malaria treatment to mining populations. It also places a significant emphasis on the distribution of LLINs to mining populations, behavior change activities, and ongoing monitoring and surveillance in the mining areas and throughout the entire Malaria program. The main interventions of the “Towards Malaria Elimination: Expanding Test, Track, and Treat in Mining Areas” grant are complemented by continued funding (by the Government of Suriname) of Malaria control efforts in the indigenous villages and coastal areas of the country.