WHO Director-General: Georgia’s “commitment, success” gives us hope that malaria-free world “possible”
Following a nearly century-long effort, Georgia has been certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization, joining the ranks of 45 countries and one territory that have achieved this milestone.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, congratulated the people of Georgia for their decades of “targeted and sustained” actions to eliminate malaria, which he called “one of the world’s leading killers”.
“Georgia’s commitment and success gives us hope that a malaria-free world is possible”, Ghebreyesus said.
Hans Henri P. Kluge, the WHO Regional Director for Europe, emphasised that Georgia’s milestone had brought the European region closer to being the first malaria-free region in the world.
“This is a huge milestone worth marking; with Georgia’s achievement, the WHO European Region is another step closer to initiating certification as the first malaria-free region in the world. This doesn’t happen in a vacuum, this was made possible thanks to sustained investment, dedication of the health workforce and targeted efforts in prevention, early detection and effective treatment of all malaria cases”, Kluge said.
Certification of malaria elimination is granted by WHO when a country has proven, beyond reasonable doubt, that the chain of indigenous transmission has been interrupted nationwide for at least the previous three consecutive years.
Georgian Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze noted that the certification had demonstrated the resilience of Georgia’s health system and its ability to address significant health challenges, saying “this success means that Georgia can address important health challenges”.
In 2024, during Georgia’s malaria-free certification process, members of the Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification, an independent WHO advisory body, noted that Georgia had a well-functioning and adequately resourced health system, strong public-private cooperation, and political commitment to maintaining a malaria-free status.
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Tbilisi City Hall to launch free lung cancer screening programme from May 1
29.04.2026.16:53
“Tbilisi City Hall is to begin funding a lung cancer screening programme from May 1,” Mayor Kakha Kaladze announced today at a session of the Tbilisi Municipal Government.
According to the Mayor of Tbilisi, free screening will be available to active smokers aged 45 to 75 who are registered in the capital, as well as to those who have quit smoking within the past fifteen years.
“We have helped countless families and individuals through the projects of our City Health and Social Services Agency. Tbilisi City Hall is now taking the next step by funding a lung cancer screening programme. From May 1, the procedure will be entirely free of charge for eligible residents and will be financed by the City Health and Social Services Agency under its Disease Screening Programme. Active smokers aged between 45 and 75 who are registered in the capital, as well as those who quit within the last fifteen years, will be entitled to a free lung cancer screening,” said Kakha Kaladze.
He added that the parameters of the screening programme, including the eligible age range, were determined in close consultation with leading specialists in oncology, radiology and pulmonology. Participating clinics and expert practitioners were selected based on their experience and qualifications.
“The screening will involve a low-dose computed tomography scan, which will be read independently by two radiologists. In the event of differing assessments, a case conference will be convened with the involvement of a third radiologist. Tbilisi City Hall has selected leading clinics that meet the required standards in terms of specialist expertise and technical infrastructure to deliver the programme. At this stage, sixteen medical institutions located across different parts of the capital will be participating in the programme,” the Mayor stated.
Kaladze also noted that lung cancer ranks first in the world for cancer-related mortality, and that screening of high-risk individuals aids in early detection and can increase survival rates by as much as seventy per cent.
