By: Beverly C. Paoyon
ALABEL, Sarangani (July 19, 2012) – Sarangani province has launched advocacy on Wednesday (July 18) for the campaign on the Travelling Net or “biyaheng kulambo” in pursuing efforts to free the Philippines from malaria.
Provincial administrator Vicente Camacho, representing Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez, signed a manifesto of support with partners and stakeholders Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., Global Fund, Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc. and the municipal health officers from its seven component municipalities to support the advocacy.
The treated mosquito nets which are currently been downloaded to the municipalities and barangays of Sarangani reportedly came from Africa where the highest incidence of malaria had been noted.
Tony Blair Foundation turned-over these nets to the Philippines through the Department of Health (DOH) and Pilipinas Shell Foundation, being the country’s partners in its drive to eradicate malaria.
In the manifesto, Dominguez urged for the “institutionalization of the malaria stratification at the barangay level, including macro-zoning and strategic planning” in enabling the implementation of “specific malaria interventions targeting particularly malaria risk situations,” to effectively eliminate cases of malaria at the barangays.
It also encouraged the “enhancement of malaria surveillance and response” as well as the “monitoring and evaluation systems” down to the respective barangays of each of its municipalities to ensure proper tracking of malaria status and the prompt and adequate treatment of all cases and the prevention of its transmission.
Malaria has been the 9th leading cause of morbidity in the Philippines being the most common and persistent mosquito-borne infection in rural areas.
In SOCSKSARGEN area, Sarangani ranked 2nd with the most number of malaria cases in 2009 next to Sultan Kudarat.
The same scenario was reported in 2010. However, Sarangani’s record was pulled down to 15th rank in 2011 with only 38 reported cases. For the first semester this year, reported cases were trimmed down to only three.
Sarangani provincial health officer Dr. Antonio Yasana noted the significant support of Global Fund, Australian Agency for International Development and World Health Organization in funding the Rollback Malaria Program in the province effectively reduced incidence of the disease.
“Way back 2004, we started with 1,730 malaria cases and we have trimmed down as of June 2012 to only three cases,” Yasana said.
However he stressed the data should not create an impression of confidence. “We are not complacent about this one. Still, this is very challenging because we should not rest on our laurels with that three cases because that can multiply a thousand times.”
“Ang sinasabi sa ating record,” according to Yasana, “we should now start thinking of eliminating malaria in Sarangani province and to align our focus also in the direction of the medium term malaria control program of the DOH in support to WHO and Global Fund through Pilipinas Shell Foundation that from (the) control prevention, it’s now towards elimination.”. (Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
