[Remarks as Prepared]
- Dr. Huy Rekol, the Director of the National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control
- Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon!
It is my pleasure to be here with you today representing the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative on behalf of the United States Agency for International Development to recognize the closing out of our PMI VectorLink project. I am pleased to celebrate the achievements made possible through our collaboration with the Royal Government of Cambodia and particularly its National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, or CNM.
Cambodia, through the efforts of the CNM, has made impressive progress in significantly decreasing its malaria case burden, leading to zero malaria deaths since 2018. USAID is proud of being a key donor and partner in these efforts, implemented through projects like PMI VectorLink.
As a result of the strategic vision, commitment, and tireless efforts of CNM and the broader Ministry of Health, Cambodia is drawing closer than ever to achieving its goal of malaria elimination - “Plasmodium falciparum” - by 2023, and the elimination of all forms of malaria by 2025.
Over the past decade, Cambodia has seen historic reductions in malaria cases, with an approximately 95 percent decrease in total malaria cases from 2012 to 2022. And in 2023, the malaria information system has recorded fewer than 10 cases of Plasmodium falciparum nationally during every single month so far. This is clear evidence of how close Cambodia has come to interrupting transmission.
Since PMI VectorLink’s start in Cambodia in 2019, the project has supported CNM’s strategic plan to eliminate malaria. VectorLink has worked collaboratively with CNM, provincial health departments, and operational districts to carry out mosquito collection using various mosquito trapping techniques.
During their project period, PMI VectorLink has also:
- Strengthened entomological surveillance in high-burden areas to generate crucial vector prevalence data;
- Implemented insecticide resistance monitoring in primary malaria vectors to assess the effectiveness of the existing control measures like bednets and hammocks for forest goers;
- Supported the development of local entomological capacity to build a more sustainable surveillance system;
- VectorLink has developed a module for the management of entomological data for CNM’s Malaria Information System.
This is only a partial list of PMI VectorLink accomplishments over the past four years, and I am pleased that we will be celebrating more of their accomplishments throughout this afternoon.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the guidance and leadership of CNM and its Director and management team for the noteworthy progress toward achieving its goals. These accomplishments have been made possible through the tireless efforts of Directors of the Province Health Departments and the provincial and district special malaria elimination teams. Contribution and coordination by all donors and partners is a catalyst for malaria elimination, and today we are seeing the results of these productive partnerships with CNM. USAID and the U.S. Embassy are proud to be among those who are helping Cambodia to reach its malaria elimination goals. Let us continue to move forward together to achieve this life-saving goal. Congratulations again on your tremendous achievements so far.
Thank you.