Abstract

RODRIGUEZ, Mario Henry; BETANZOS-REYES, Ángel Francisco  and  GRUPO DE TRABAJO DE MALARIA DEL SISTEMA MESOAMERICANO DE SALUD PUBLICA. Plan to improve malaria control towards its elimination in Mesoamerica. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2011, vol.53, suppl.3, pp.s333-s348. ISSN 0036-3634.

To develop a plan to strengthen the control of malaria towards its elimination. In 2009, under the coordination of the National Public HealthInstitute ofMexico, atransdisciplinary equipment of technical and operative experts was conformed to carry out a situational analysis of malaria and control programs and for the selection of effective practices of intervention that would be incorporated to the plan, within the framework of an exercise in Theory of Change. Criteria for thestratificationof thelocalities, based ontheirtransmission characteristics were established. The structural and operative limitations of the control programs were identified. A plan of interventions was elaborated to improve the coverage of epidemiological surveillance, anti-malaria interventions and opportune diagnosis and treatment of cases. The plan delineates progressive phases of implementation: reorganization, intensification of interventions and evaluation of elimination feasibility. The adoption of a regional strategic plan will provide guidance and administrative elements to conform a system that coordinates the activities of the national control programs and facilitate the elimination of malaria in the region.

Keywords : malaria; Latin America; stratification; risk management; elimination; regional health planning.