ILOILO City – Western Visayas has finally obtained malaria-free status.
The Department of Health (DOH) approved the recommendation to declare Negros Occidental as cleared of the mosquito-borne disease – the last province in the region to be declared as such.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, according to the World Health Organization.
“Based on the reports, review and the recommendation of the malaria technical working group, the malaria elimination report and the supplementary documents are sufficient to support the malaria-free claim of the province (Negros Occidental),” said DOH undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Some of the mandatory requirements Negros Occidental hurdled to be declared malaria-free were the following:
* absence of locally acquired confirmed indigenous cases for the last five years
* presence of Functional Provincial Malaria Elimination and Response Hub
* functional Provincial Surveillance and Response System
* functional System for Diagnostic and Treatment for Malaria Cases
* functional Entomological Surveillance
* functional Quality Assurance System for Malaria Microscopy and Vector Control
* local ordinances to support malaria activities
The provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras, Aklan, and Capiz were declared malaria-free in 1995 yet while Antique in 2019.
However, Maria Lourdes Monegro, malaria program coordinator of DOH Region 6, said the campaign against the disease does not end.
“Vigilant kita gihapon,” Monegro said.
“Kung may mga residente kita nga nagapuli halin sa mga areas diri sa aton pungsod kag sa iban nga countries nga endemic sa malaria, kung mga symptoma sila, kadto gilayon sa pinakamalapit mga health center para magpakonsulta para ma-diagnose sang insakto kag matagaan bulong,” Monegro added.
DOH-6 re-assessed the status of Negros Occidental on April 27 to 29.
In 2015, DOH-6 also conducted an assessment but the province failed to pass the documentary requirements.
Based on the DOH-6 record, Western Visayas listed four malaria cases in 2013; three each in years 2014 and 2015; five in 2016; three in 2017; four in 2018; six in 2019; and one in 2020.
These cases were all imported, or cases obtained elsewhere in the Philippines or abroad.
Malaria symptoms include high fever, headache, chills and shivers, nausea and vomiting.
In severe form, it may include severe vomiting and diarrhea, generalized convulsion, delirium and impaired consciousness, followed by coma and possibly death.
Measures for malaria prevention include awareness of endemic areas, bite prevention through the wearing of long-sleeved clothes and using of insect repellants and mosquito nets (preferably insecticide-treated), and prophylactic treatment when travelling to endemic areas./PN
