DOH declares Batanes a malaria-free province

By Oliver T. Baccay

Friday 3rd of August 2012

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Aug. 3 (PIA) -- After successfully maintaining zero malaria case for five consecutive years, the Department of Health (DOH) has declared Batanes province as malaria-free province.

Dr. Romeo Turingan, malaria control program coordinator, no cases of malaria were recorded in the province from 2008 to 2012. As such, Batanes has been cited as having the best malaria control program in the region.

Turingan said DOH central officials have validated the data, including health condition of Ivatans, before the province was declared malaria-free.

Statistics also showed a downtrend of malaria cases in the region from 2008 to 2012, to wit: Cagayan , from 735 to eight; Isabela, from 239 to seven; Nueva Vizcaya, from 18 to zero and Quirino, from eight to zero.

Quirino province has already maintained zero malaria case for three years, from 2010 to 2012.

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites, especially mosquitoes that carry malaria causing microorganisms, which cause a deadly infection that kills many people each year.

To continuously combat the problem and ensure eradication of micro-organisms that causes malaria, Turingan said, the DOH, in partnership with various line agencies and the local government units, is conducting continuous insecticide spraying in all areas and the regional boundaries. (OTB/PIA-2)