June 2025
“Ensuring that diagnosis and treatment is available for all is key to reach and maintain zero malaria,” said Dr. Marthelise Eersel, who leads Suriname’s Malaria Program. This year, Suriname became the first country in the Amazon region to receive malaria-free certification from the World Health Organization (WHO).
For Dr. Eersel, training local community members was essential to this success. This approach enable the identification, treatment, and reporting of suspected cases, even in the most remote areas, and helped prevent the disease’s resurgence. “Everywhere where there is a community, you can train people to diagnose and treat malaria and report back to you,” she added.
Suriname, nestled on the northeastern coast of South America, shares borders with Guyana, French Guiana, and Brazil. More than 90% of the country is covered by the rainforest. Its economy largely depends on natural resource extraction, particularly gold mining, which often involves the movement of people between malaria-endemic areas. This makes it a key driver of transmission. Additionally, the Amerindian and Maroon indigenous populations, also residing in the Amazon, frequently travel to connect with relatives, conduct business, or participate in cultural and religious events.
