RP nears MDG target of eliminating malaria

MANILA, Philippines - The number of Filipinos dying from malaria has decreased by almost half in the last two years, according to the data released by the Department of Health (DOH) last Friday.

The DOH recorded 19,148 malaria cases last year, down from 23,655 cases in 2008. The number of deaths from malaria also declined from 56 in 2008 to 22 last year.

Malaria is a life-threatening disease that is transmitted through bites of infected mosquitos.

Dr. Jeffrey Hii, a scientist at the World Health Organization- Western Pacific Regional Office, said the Philippines is close to meeting one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which is reducing the prevalence of malaria in the country by 2015. 

“It was a very impressive reduction,” Hii told a media briefing in Manila.

However, he said the Philippine government must intensify its efforts to reduce malaria cases in war-torn Mindanao. He said diagnostic interventions could not be done in conflict-affected areas because health workers are afraid to visit these places. 

He said there is need to strengthen surveillance system in order to avoid the spread of the disease.

Health experts in the country have recommended the use of special mosquito nets which cost around $7 (P350) each as one of the preventive measures.

Malaria is endemic in 59 of the 81 provinces in the Philippines, with 10.8 million Filipinos at risk of acquiring the diseases, the DOH said. 

From 2003 to 2008, most of the malaria cases were recorded in Luzon and Mindanao with 60.4 percent and 39.5 percent, respectively. Only 0.1 percent of the cases were from Visayas.