The World Malaria Day is being celebrated every 25th of April that highlights the responsibility of each and every one to participate to end malaria and to get closer to a malaria-free world. This year’s theme, “Zero Malaria-Draw the Line against Malaria” is adherent to its advocacy to end malaria by 2030 (DOH, 2019). To be able to achieve this goal; keep malaria high on the political agenda, mobilize additional resources and empower the communities to take control and preventive care. What is the government doing to prevent malaria in the Philippines?
Today, Social Media is widely used by almost all ages and the government uses that opportunity to reach to the people in the community in disseminating information. Thus, our local government agency uses this platform to make an impact in spreading awareness to the people in the community. Aside from this effort in partnering with DOH, they are conducting awareness to the community and developed a strategic recommendation plan to accelerate the transition through the installation of a functional surveillance system to fasten the identification of the high-risk population groups. This is all a combined effort with the Local Government Units to be able to manage and implement the Malaria program. Now, what is malaria and how do we prevent it?
Malaria is a life-threatening condition caused by the plasmodium carried by anopheles mosquito or can be caused through blood transfusion or use of contaminated needles. Once an individual is infected, the incubation period is from 9-14 days before symptoms occur it usually causes fever, headache and chills; and can progress to severe illness and possibly death. Preventive measures are important to protect one’s self from malaria, usually mosquitos are nocturnal and malaria transmission occurs usually at night which is why use of mosquito net is highly recommended with high prevalence of malaria and as well as the use of mosquito repellent. It is important also to keep our environment clean, the destruction of larvae by the use of spray and insecticides-treated bed nets can be used to eradicate mosquito growths in the community.
Together let us all keep our surroundings clean and safe for everyone’s safety in the community. Let us help the government in maintaining and following guidelines to help prevent the occurrence of malaria.
NO II Joanna Marie E. Baltazar
References:
- Upcoming World Malaria Day
https://endmalaria.org/worldmalariaday2021
- World Malaria Day 2021
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-malaria-day
- Zero Malaria Starts with Me
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-malaria-day/world-malaria-day-2020
- PHL Malaria-Free by 2030-DOH
https://doh.gov.ph/press-release/Phl-Malaria-Free-by-2030-DOH
- Malaria Program
https://ro9.doh.gov.ph/index.php/health-programs/infectious-disease-program/malaria-program
- Prevention and control measures for malaria
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/malaria/prevention-and-control