Malaria Elimination

Malaria has historically been one of the leading causes of ill health in Vanuatu. Significant efforts by the Ministry of Health’s National Malaria Programme and partners had seen a consistent reduction in malaria prevalence over time. Initial plans to reach zero cases in 2023 and officially eliminate Malaria by 2026 have been hampered by the focus on COVID-19 and continued logistics and remote access issues

Most cases are now reported in the provinces of Malampa and Sanma, the island of Epi in Shefa province, and there have been recent outbreaks in the remote Torba region.

HELPR-1 supports the MoH’s Malaria Programme, by enabling its staff to gain access to hard-to-reach areas for prevention and response activities including testing, treatment, and spraying. HELPR-1 also supported the delivery and distribution of over 59,000 mosquito bed nets LLIN (Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets) in all the provinces and continues to do so.

HELPR-1 has recently aligned its schedule with Malaria Outbreak Response to targeted provinces and communities to bring Vanuatu closer to eradicating Malaria by 2030.