Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, says Guyana has progressed in the fight against malaria and the battle against the mosquito-borne disease will be ramped up in the vulnerable regions 7 and 8.

The minister made these comments at a two-day workshop held on the evaluation and monitoring of malaria and TB. He said the country had progressed in the fight against the diseases through its partnerships with the Global Fund, the Pan-American Health Organisation the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the World Bank and several governments including the United States of America and Canada.

“I am proud to say that we have exceeded our (reduction) targets for malaria during 2007 as was set at the beginning of the year but while we have come a long way, there are still significant numbers of persons infected with malaria and TB,” Ramsammy said. He added that Guyana will, this year, join the rest of the world to observe malaria and tuberculosis day under similar themes, ‘I am stopping malaria’, and ‘I am stopping tuberculosis’.

According to GINA, at the beginning of 2007, the ministry had set a target to achieve less than 15,000 cases of malaria. The target has been achieved as 10,829 cases were recorded at the fiftieth epidemiological week ending on December 16. There were 20,519 cases reported for the corresponding period last year. Ramsammy said, “This is no result that we should be celebrating because it means that over 10,000 persons are still infected with malaria and this should serve as an impetus so that Guyana would not have to deal with malaria at all.”

The ministry aims to achieve less than 8000 cases of malaria this year with significant reduction in Regions Seven and Eight – the two most vulnerable areas. Additionally, projections from the World Health Organisation have indicated that Guyana is recording about 850 cases of TB cases annually. In 2007, 701 cases were recorded.

The ministry is calling for greater participation from all stakeholders including teachers, parents, religious leaders, non-governmental organisations and the private sector, in heightening awareness of these diseases.

The workshop was held at the Regency Suites on Tuesday.