Guyana learning from Suriname how to eliminate malaria

In a significant step towards malaria eradication, a high-level delegation from Guyana, led by PAHO Director Dr. Kim Dickson and representatives from the Guyana Malaria Program, embarked on a knowledge-sharing mission to Suriname from November 19 to 21, 2025. The visit aimed to exchange strategies and lessons from Suriname’s successful elimination of malaria, which earned the country a malaria-free certification from the World Health Organization (WHO) on June 30, 2025—a first for the Amazon region. Suriname’s Communications Service highlighted the mission’s dual focus: supporting Guyana’s progress towards malaria elimination and preventing the reintroduction of the disease in Suriname. During the meeting, Suriname’s Health Minister, Misiekaba, emphasized the importance of regional collaboration, noting that Suriname’s achievement would be unsustainable without joint efforts across the Guiana Shield and Amazon region. He also pointed out the challenge of preventing malaria reintroduction due to cross-border population movements, while praising Guyana’s significant reduction in malaria cases since the previous year. The delegation engaged in a series of activities, including technical meetings with Suriname’s National Malaria Program and the Malaria Elimination Task Force, visits to malaria clinics in Paramaribo and near the Afobaka Dam, and a scheduled stop at a Medical Mission clinic to observe community-based prevention and treatment practices. Dr. Yafflo Ouattara, PAHO Director in Suriname, underscored the necessity of regional cooperation, stating that the exchange of knowledge and strategies would be crucial for maintaining Suriname’s malaria-free status and accelerating Guyana’s progress. This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the fight against malaria in the Amazon region, with both nations committed to achieving a malaria-free future.