How Bhutan, East Timor Can Get Back on Track to Eliminating Malaria

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_{‍This summary draws from an interview featured on Devex. Read the full discussion here.}

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As the two countries adjust their timelines and set their sights to eliminate malaria by 2025, experts identify critical actions to get them back on track.

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Bhutan and Timor‑Leste were on track to achieving elimination when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, leading to resurgence of cases in both countries. Movement restrictions and reassignment of malaria health workers to COVID-19 response were attributed as the contributing factors that disrupted progress towards elimination, according to a Lancet article recently published in the Regional Health journal for Western Pacific.

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In a discussion with Devex, Dr. Sarthak Das, Chief Executive Officer of APLMA outlined three key elements needed to put Bhutan and East Timor back on track to achieve the 2025 elimination goal.

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