Malaria: Diagnosis and treatment in the context of elimination in Cape Verde

Malaria remains a public health worldwide, mainly in Africa. With the efforts in the fight against the disease in recent years, morbidity and mortality by malaria have been decreasing, and several countries aims for elimination of disease by 2010, being Cabo Verde eligible. Malaria data in Cabo Verde from recent years (2010-2016) demonstrate an unstable variation of cases in the country. In this study was analysed the capacity of the country in the diagnosis and treatment of malaria in the country. During the period a total of 37.811 malaria suspects cases was tested in the country in which 312 was positive to Plasmodium falciparum, being the main cases imported from different African countries. The country implemented the “test, track, treat initiative” where 100% of cases are confirmed by Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and microscopy. The treatment is free and exclusive to the public health system and all patients are hospitalized to the complete treatment in according with the WHO policies. The health facilities are organized, with material and human resources trained to the correct diagnosis and treatment of malaria resulting in low mortality rate, being 2.24%. The country has made progress in controlling the disease, so it is one of the eligible for the elimination by 2020, counting on the support of national and international entities. Keywords: Cabo Verde; Malaria Elimination; Diagnosis; Treatment