The Department of Health (DOH) is aiming to eliminate malaria in the province of Palawan by 2026.
DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire recently reported that Palawan is the only province in the country that is not yet “free” from malaria.
“Obviously, we want to focus our programs in Palawan which is the province with remaining active cases. So in 2026, we would like that Palawan be reduced its cases to zero,” said DOH Standards and Strategy Division Director Dr. Jose Gerard Belimac during a media forum on Friday, Feb. 10.
Belimac said that malaria cases in Palawan are “concentrated in the southern part of the island.”
The DOH official laid out the different strategies to achieve this target in Palawan and avoid malaria from resurfacing in other areas.
“In terms of prevention, we will continuously provide commodities that would prevent the proliferation of insects such as the malaria mosquito--through the distribution of long lasting insecticide treated nets and insecticides for indoor spraying,” said Belimac.
Testing tools and medicines will be continuously provided, said Belimac.
“On the treatment and prevention, we will continue to provide support to the provinces so that the provinces are able to conduct targeted testing and treatment. We will provide them rapid diagnostic tests and anti-malaria drugs,” he said.
“We will also continue our awareness campaign on the ground and lastly, we need to continuously surveil the existence of type of mosquito that is carrying malaria in one particular area,” he added.
Malaria is a “life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable,” the DOH said.