The National Centre for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control (CNM) has released a 2023 report indicating that less than 1,500 malaria cases were recorded, a decrease of more than 60 per cent compared to the more than 4,000 logged in 2022.

The report said the Kingdom saw 1,384 cases of malaria in 2023, a decrease of 66 per cent over 2022, when there were 4,053 cases of malaria.

“Despite seeing more than 1,000 cases, no deaths were reported from malaria. Cambodia has not seen any malaria deaths since 2018, a positive sign for the Kingdom’s goal of eliminating the disease by 2025,” added the report.

Kampong Speu provincial governor Vei Samnang said on January 15 that the malaria strain known as Plasmodium falciparum was successfully eliminated in 2023. A new campaign to eradicate another strain is now underway by the provincial administration.

“Our officials are monitoring people’s health in all areas where there is a risk of the disease. Before people go into the forest, they must take medication and show our officials that they have mosquito nets,” he added.

He reiterated that the elimination of malaria by 2025 remains one of the main goals of the Cambodian government.

National Malaria Day on April 25, 2023, themed “Time to deliver zero malaria: Invest, innovate, implement”, aimed to improve the time to zero malaria through enhancing the effectiveness of measures that could be taken by people from all walks of life.

Globally, the complete elimination of malaria has been targeted for 2030.

During last year’s National Malaria Day, then-Prime Minister Hun Sen explained that the government was observing the national strategic plan to eliminate malaria for 2011-2025, which served as one corner of the framework established to support the Kingdom’s 2016-30 sustainable development goals.