Global Malaria Programme
The WHO Global Malaria Programme (GMP) is responsible for coordinating WHO's global efforts to control and eliminate malaria. Its work is guided by the "Global technical strategy for malaria 2016–2030" adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2015 and updated in 2021.

Malaria elimination certification process

Certification of malaria elimination is the official recognition by WHO of a country’s malaria-free status. It is granted when a country has proven, beyond reasonable doubt, that the chain of local transmission of all human malaria parasites has been interrupted nationwide for at least 3 consecutive years, and that a fully functional surveillance and response system is in place to prevent re-establishment of indigenous transmission. 

To support this process, the Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification (TAG-MEC) advises WHO on whether certification should be granted, upon a government’s request, or withdrawn if conditions are no longer met.

 

Steps in certification of malaria elimination

  1. The country, after meeting the above-mentioned criteria, submits an official request for certification to the WHO Director-General through the WHO regional office.
  2. The country formulates a plan of action and timeline for the certification process with WHO. This normally takes place during an initial WHO assessment mission.
  3. The country finalizes the required documentation and national elimination report. The latter should be submitted to WHO.
  4. The Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification (TAG-MEC) reviews the national elimination report. 
  5. An evaluation team, established by WHO, conducts field visits to verify findings in the national elimination report and develops an evaluation report.
  6. The TAG-MEC reviews the report of the independent evaluation mission and reaches a consensus on whether certification should be recommended or postponed.
  7. The MPAG ensures that the certification process has followed the standard operating procedures as published by WHO.
  8. The WHO Director-General makes the final decision and officially informs the national government of the national certification.
  9. When granted, WHO publishes the certification in the Weekly Epidemiological Record. The country is listed in the WHO official register of areas where malaria elimination has been achieved.
  10. The country continues its efforts to prevent the re-establishment of malaria transmission and reports annually to WHO in order to maintain its malaria free status.

 

Publications

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Preparing for certification of malaria elimination, second edition

This document provides extended guidance to countries that are nearing malaria elimination on preparing for certification. It provides an overview of the...

Report of the sixth, seventh and eighth meetings of the Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification: 20 March, 9–10 September and 3–4 December 2024

The Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification (TAG-MEC) was established to advise WHO on malaria-free certification, malaria elimination,...

Fourth annual global forum of malaria-eliminating countries

The Fourth Annual Global Forum of Malaria-Eliminating Countries was held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 24 to 26 January 2023. It brought together nearly...

Report of the third, fourth and fifth meetings of the Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification: 17 February, 26 May and 27-28 November 2023

The Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification (TAG-MEC) was established to advise WHO on malaria-free certification, malaria elimination...

Report of the first and second meetings of the Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification, 13–14 September 2022 and 27 January 2023

The Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification (TAG-MEC) was established to advise WHO on malaria-free certification, malaria elimination...

A framework for malaria elimination

The malaria landscape has changed significantly in the last decade: funding has increased, coverage of life-saving tools has been scaled up, burden has...