The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Timor-Leste as malaria-free, recognizing the country's success in eliminating the disease after years of concerted effort.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated the people and government of Timor-Leste, stating that the achievement proves malaria can be stopped with strong political will, smart interventions, sustained investment, and dedicated health workers.
Timor-Leste is the third country in the WHO South-East Asia region to receive this certification, joining Maldives (2015) and Sri Lanka (2016). Globally, 47 countries and one territory have now been certified malaria-free.
The certification is granted when a country demonstrates that indigenous transmission has been interrupted nationwide for at least three consecutive years. Timor-Leste reported zero indigenous cases from 2021 onwards, down from a peak of over 223,000 clinically diagnosed cases in 2006.
Health Minister Dr Élia António de Araújo dos Reis Amaral said the elimination honors every life lost and saved, and stressed the need for continued vigilance to prevent malaria's re-entry.
Source: World Health Organization
