Sarangani winning fight against malaria

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (April 27, 2008) – In 2005, Maitum town had the largest malaria cases of 555 but dramatically dropped to 58 cases in 2007.

In barangay Upo, Maitum, the 133 cases of malaria recorded in 2005 dropped to nine in 2007 and stands at zero this year.

These "gains" were cited by the Tropical Disease Foundation (TDF) in Sarangani's fight against malaria.

TDF is a Global Fund non-government arm working in the Philippines.
"Global Fund has extended its assistance to 2014 for the rolling and continuing effort to sustain our gains," TDF vice president Dr. Roberta Romero said.Romero led the World Malaria Day celebration here Friday (April 25) with the theme "Malaria: A Disease Without Borders"."We should move from here by integrating and linking our health systems," Romero added.

In August 2005, the provincial government forged partnerships with Dole Philippines' Mahintana Foundation, Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc., Alcantara Foundation, the National Commission for Indigenous People, PAMET, DepED, Sarangani Community Development Foundation Inc., San Andres Fishing Industries, and other NGOs for malaria control program.
The TDF focused on 25 out of 65 Sarangani endemic barangays. 80% of these barangays are using the Treated Bed Nets (TBNs). From 2004, Dole Philippines' Mahintana Foundation has donated 5,648 TBNs.

"We need all your help for our information campaign to fight the disease," said. Dr. Antonio Yasana, provincial health officer.Yasana said measures to support the malaria control program in the province are the inclusion of the program to school curriculum, adopting a barangay, timely and proper treatment, spraying mosquito-killing insecticide, use of TBNs, strengthening recording and data base system of other diseases, and creation of medical technologist plantilla in the local government.

"Today manifests our global effort to control the spread of malaria worldwide," regional program director Gebie Areen Biron said. "Our fight against malaria can only be won when partners come together."

Considering health as the basic foundation for social development, Board Member Nicanor Ballan, chair of Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) health committee, said the SP has passed a resolution for malaria "round 6" implementation in Sarangani.Global Fund has given assistance to 132 countries with HIV, TB and malaria reports. In the Philippines, it has addressed 26 out of 27 malaria endemic provinces through the Tropical Disease Foundation (TDF) since 2003. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)