An official of the Department of Health (DOH) bared that malaria, a mosquito-borne disease, still poses a risk in five provinces in the country.
During a recent media forum held at the Manila Hotel, DOH – National Malaria Control and Elimination Program Manager Dr. Raffy Deray said that malaria is still prevalent in some barangays in the provinces of Palawan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Mindoro Occidental.
“There are still five areas that are still facing local transmission as of this time. These are just barangays that are endemic and not the whole provinces or municipalities,” he noted.
Deray said that the efforts of eliminating malaria are being hindered because of “peace and order problems” in some areas, particularly in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, and Sulu.
The health official, however, noted that out of the 81 provinces in the Philippines, 50 provinces were already declared malaria-free.
Meanwhile, the remaining 26 provinces are already in the elimination phase, said Deray.
“They are just waiting for the five years na walang cases of malaria or are still preparing documents or evidence to prove malaria free na sila,” he explained.
Deray said that the health department is serious in addressing the malaria problem, citing that the mosquito-borne illness is one of the “five diseases that the DOH is targeting to eliminate,” and is partnering with some private sector, like the Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI), to achieve this goal.
Deray said that there were 4,100 cases of malaria, including two deaths that have been reported nationwide as of the first 11 months of this year.
The health official also said that the DOH is aiming to reduce the instance of malaria by 90 percent by year 2022 and achieve a zero- transmission by year 2025.
To note, the DOH said that malaria is a “parasite-caused disease that is usually acquired through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito.” Some of its symptoms include high fever, chills, headache, profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, among others. (Analou de Vera)
