‘Philippines to eradicate malaria by 2030’
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is confident of meeting its target to eliminate malaria by 2030 even though five provinces remain at risk for the mosquito-borne disease.
Raffy Deray, DOH national malaria coordinator, said the number of cases has significantly dropped, an indication that the country is on its way to eliminate the disease.
“Right now we are on track based on the strategic plan that we have developed,” Deray told reporters.
He clarified that malaria remains endemic only in certain barangays and not the entire provinces of Palawan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Sulu and Mindoro Occidental.
The goal is to reduce malaria cases by 90 percent by 2022 and achieve zero local transmission by 2025.
This means that new infections will come only from international travelers.
Marvi Trudeau, program manager of Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI), said 95 percent of malaria cases are from Palawan, mostly from Rizal town.
The DOH and PSFI have been working to eliminate malaria in the country since 1999, when 81 provinces were endemic for the disease.
- Latest
- Trending
