ILOILO – To sustain Western Visayas’ malaria-free status, the Department of Health (DOH) is intensifying its case surveillance effort.
According to Maria Lourdes Monegro, malaria program coordinator of DOH in Region 6, local government units (LGUs) are given the big role to expand case surveillance, early diagnosis and prompt treatment, strengthening vector control, and health advocacy.
Earlier, DOH issued memorandum 2021-0437 on the malaria screening of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from malaria endemic countries.
The memorandum provides guidance on the screening of OFWs from endemic countries. They should be monitored for any development of malaria symptoms to prevent re-introduction of cases, especially to areas declared malaria-free.
Between January and Nov. 25, Region 6 recorded only three imported cases – all had travel history from Guinea in South Africa.
In August, the DOH-central office declared the region malaria-free after Negros Occidental passed the assessment.
“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.
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 (WHO).
November is Malaria Awareness Month.
Monegro reminded everyone to seek medical attention whenever there are malaria symptoms that 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.
Meanwhile, Monegrorefused to comment on WHO’s recommendation to use the RTS, S/AS01 (RTS, S) malaria vaccine for children./PN