PMI VectorLink Cambodia

Cambodia is progressing toward malaria elimination; there has been a significant reduction in malaria morbidity and mortality over the last 10 years. The overall malaria mortality rate has decreased from 0.98 per 100,000 in 2010 to 0.12 per 100,000 in 2014. No malaria deaths have been reported since 2017. Malaria cases in Cambodia are caused by Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, or a mix of both species and of the reported total malaria cases in last five years from 2016 to 2020, majority were Plasmodium (P.) vivax (62%). In 2020, there were 9,237 malaria cases (936 Plasmodium (P.) falciparum) detected by public health facilities and Village Malaria Workers (VMWs), a 71% decline from 2019, when 31,791 malaria cases (4,990 P. falciparum) were reported. The national malaria incidence in 2020 was 0.56 (0.05 for P. falciparum) among 1,000 population. In 2020, only 10% (936) of cases were P. falciparum or mixed infections compared to 16% in 2019 and 56% in 2017 (National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control 2020).

The National Strategic Plan for Elimination of Malaria in the Kingdom of Cambodia targets malaria elimination by 2025. The Malaria Elimination Action Framework for 2021-2025 describes new strategic updates based on recent changes in the country’s epidemiological and programmatic context. Foci investigations are identified as one of three key objectives of the surveillance program, which aims to determine the drivers of malaria transmission and trigger a targeted response. An intensified approach is required in endemic locations with highest risks, where mobile migrant populations and forest goers may be key to transmission.

Activities and accomplishments:

• PMI VectorLink Cambodia provided technical assistance to the National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control (CNM), including conducting routine entomological surveillance in sentinel sites before shifting to case-based entomological surveillance during foci investigations.
• The project designed and developed an entomological surveillance module which was integrated with the existing CNM’s malaria case management MIS.
• PMI VectorLink Cambodia strengthened local capacity by training 71 Provincial Health Department and Operational District staff from nine provinces on morphological identification of primary vectors of malaria.

Capacity Building
Information Systems
Insecticide Resistance
Surveillance

Oct 2019 — Jul 2023

Cambodia

The PMI VectorLink Project