Elimination Target Year
Country Overview
Malaria Country Profile
- An estimated 30% of the population live in areas considered receptive to malaria transmission (Total population 1.287 million).
- Eswatini achieved 92% malaria case reduction across border points from the year 2002 and 2016 and aims to eliminate malaria by 2020.
- Over past three years Eswatini has made pragmatic reduction on burden of malaria. A total of 1191total confirmed malaria cases reported in 2017, 640 in 2018 and 590 in 2019.
Elimination Strategies Implemented
Eswatini is pursuing a vision of a Kingdom free from malaria, elaborated in the National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020. Four intervention areas underpin this pursuit:
- Definitive diagnosis and standardized case management
- Evidence-based vector control, particularly targeted indoor residual spraying
- Epidemiological (including entomological) surveillance
- Behaviour change communications
Successes thus far can be attributed to key interventions such malaria case-based surveillance, optimised entomological surveillance and vector management. Towards the achieving elimination, the country will intensify malaria case-based surveillance, strengthen Integrated Vector Control Management, enhance and optimise entomological surveillance systems and vector control. Furthermore, community engagement in active foci and malaria At-Risk areas will be intensified coupled with an increase in malaria awareness to mobile populations.
Best Practices
- Targeting cane cutters considered to be high risk groups during harvesting season with testing treatment
- Traveller specific messaging (in Portuguese) during peak travel season of December and January
- Reactive IRS conducted in communities recording transmission post the annual spray campaign.
- His Majesty King Mswati III launched the End Malaria Fund for the Kingdom of Eswatini on the 31st of May 2019. This initiative is aimed at mobilising sustainable domestic resources for malaria elimination in the Kingdom, the SADC region, and the entire African continent.
