Oman is malaria free, let’s keep it that way: MoH

A three-day workshop on malaria organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) has started in Oman.

It aims to train Omani health workers in malaria surveillance and methods of collecting, analysing, and evaluating data. The workshop presented a number of papers to discuss WHO strategies and challenges to eliminate malaria.

Dr. Idris Al Obaiani, director of Communicable Diseases said in his speech: "Surveillance of malaria infection in human population is the backbone of malaria elimination. "In Oman, we are at a stage of prevention of re-establishment of malaria. However, Due to high receptivity and increased vulnerability which is caused by influx of cases from malaria endemic countries the risk of re-establishment still exists. Therefore, it is important to maintain vigilance, a strong surveillance system, continuous assessment of the eco-epidemiological situation, and readiness for prompt and appropriate interventions".

A number of experts in the field of infection control from Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Oman participated in this workshop.