Good Practices Implemented in Malaria-Free Countries as a Lever to Accelerate Elimination in Endemic Areas from 2000 to 2024: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Context: Malaria remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world. Some countries have succeeded in eradicating the disease from their territories. However, the underlying reasons for their success are not always well documented or transferable to other endemic countries. It is therefore crucial to examine the good practices of these malaria-free countries and to analyse the extent to which they can be adapted and applied in endemic countries. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess good practice in malaria-free countries, and to propose strategies that could be applied to endemic countries to ensure effective elimination. Method: We searched PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar and WHO databases for studies between 2000 and 2024 and produced a narrative synthesis to organize and group the different interventions. The quality of the data was assessed using the Dixon-Woods M technique, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane ROBIS assessment tool. Result: A sample of 17 documents was selected which met our assessment criteria. The seven (07) best practices implemented to eliminate malaria in malaria-free countries are strengthening surveillance systems and integrated vector management (IVM), universal access to healthcare, community empowerment and participation, strong political commitment and sustainable financing, cross-border collaboration and the management of imported cases. Conclusion: This review identified good practices implemented by malaria-free countries. This information provides endemic countries with inspiration and benchmarks for strengthening and optimising their own control strategies.