The first day of the congress started with a series of lectures by key figures of the Congress and
the malaria programme in Iran.
The organizers warmly welcomed the participants and explained their expectation that this congress
will contribute to the malaria elimination program and provide thescientific evidence for decision-making
In the first scientific meeting, the main objectives of the global elimination programme were explored.
Currently, WHO has only certified 4 countries as having eliminated malaria, while more than 20 countries
are in different stages of elimination (Dr A. Kondrashin).
Following the overview, the quality assurance component of the malaria programme in Oman
(Dr Shahoo Al-Zedjali); the results of the external evaluation of the MDG goals for economic cooperation
(ECO) countries (Dr K Holakooi); the concerns regarding insecticide resistance on malaria elimination
(Dr A. Enayati); the impact of socio-economic inequality on malaria elimination (Dr N. Sargolzarie); and
the results of the baseline assessment of malaria indicators in Iran (Dr AR. Ansari) were presented.
The plenary speeches of the afternoon session concentrated on novel malaria therapies with a focus
on ACTs in times of artemisinin resistance and the treatment of P. vivax malaria in an area of malaria
elimination (H. Noedl), as well as on the current situation of P. vivax and resistance to Chloroquine in
Asia (W.H. Wernsdorfer). The following presentations discussed issues of chemotherapy and monitoring
of resistance in malaria resistance. Presentations covered a wide range of issues including the survival of
P. falciparum after SP & Chloroquine (S. Rana), the cultivation of Artemisia in Iran (M. Mojarrab), the
efficacy of SP-Artemisinin combination therapy (M. Afsharpad).The participants selected poster number
102 title: Low prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in Endemic areas of Iran which was prepared and
submitted by Dr. Mohammad Shekari and his team.