The document was signed by the Ministers of Health of Colombia, Fernando Ruiz, and of Panama, Luis Francisco Sucre.
The Governments of Colombia and Panama signed a “Binational Action Plan for the Elimination of Cross-Border Malaria” with which they seek to join efforts to combat this disease in the face of waves of migrants, official sources reported this Sunday.
“This agreement signed between the two countries seeks that we join bilateral cooperation efforts for the elimination of cross-border malaria, through the implementation of joint actions,” said Claudia Cuéllar, Deputy Director of Communicable Diseases of the Colombian Ministry of Health.
The document was signed by the Ministers of Health of Colombia, Fernando Ruiz, and of Panama, Luis Francisco Sucre, within the framework of the work of the Regional Initiative for the Elimination of Malaria (IREM).
Cross-border malaria, according to the Colombian authorities, “is defined as the transmission of the disease with the presence of cases that cross borders, therefore, in border territories where malaria transmission exists, it is necessary to develop more extensive control initiatives and programs. of the disease to achieve its elimination ”.
The Darien Gap is the natural border between Colombia and Panama through which thousands of migrants pass each year, in recent years mostly Haitians and Cubans, on their way to North America.
This jungle is considered one of the most dangerous migratory routes in the world not only because of the characteristics of this ecosystem, but also because of the presence of criminal groups.
The plan
In order to manage and control the problem, both ministries prepared this plan that defines the type of work they will carry out to eliminate cross-border malaria in both countries.
“It is crucial to facilitate the prevention and treatment of malaria to migrants and their host communities, regardless of the origin and legal migration status of people, with a view to eliminating and avoiding reintroduction of it through imported cases,” he said. Cuellar.
In this line, the vulnerable, indigenous, migrant and Afro-American population will be served, and the different ethnic, cultural, religious and lifestyle characteristics will be taken into account, harmonizing them with actions for the promotion, prevention and control of malaria.
“The areas agreed as a priority object of joint work are divided into two. By the Atlantic border, in Panama: district (town) of Puerto Obaldia in the Guna Yala region, localities: Puerto Obaldia, Anachucuna, Armila, La Miel, Permé and Carreto; while in Colombia: Acandí and Unguía ”, added Cuéllar.
On the Pacific border, he added, “in Panama, work will be carried out in the Jaqué district of the Chepigana District, Darien province, Jaqué, Guayabito, Puerto Piña, Lucas and Cocalito towns; and in Colombia the municipalities of Juradó and Riosucio are prioritized ”. (I)
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