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The malaria eradication campaign in Colombia, 1959-1979
Julio Cesar Padilla-Rodríguez1, Mario Javier Olivera2, Pablo Chaparro3
1Red de Gestión de Conocimiento, Investigación e Innovación en Malaria, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. jcpadilla59@yahoo.es.
Biomedica : Revista Del Instituto Nacional De Salud
|July 22, 2022
Summary
Colombia's Malaria Eradication Campaign (MEC) significantly reduced malaria transmission initially but failed to interrupt it long-term due to financial issues. Marked control was achieved in some areas.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Tropical Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Colombia implemented the Malaria Eradication Campaign (MEC) in the mid-1950s.
- The effectiveness of the MEC has not been previously evaluated in Colombia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the results of the MEC during its attack and consolidation phases.
- To assess the impact of the MEC on malaria transmission in Colombia from 1959 to 1979.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive and retrospective study was conducted.
- Data were sourced from malariometric and operational results from Ministry of Public Health archives (1959-1979).
- WHO Expert Committee on Malaria criteria were used for analysis.
Main Results:
- The MEC achieved a 94% reduction in malaria transmission in 1959 and 88% by 1962.
- Low transmission levels were maintained until 1969.
- From 1970-1979, increased endemicity and epidemic resurgence occurred due to financial problems, preventing sustained interruption of transmission.
Conclusions:
- The MEC did not achieve its goal of interrupting malaria transmission nationwide.
- Significant malaria control was observed in medium and low-intensity transmission areas.
