Malaria endemicity in the Philippines is now generally characterized as moderate to low. Within the moderately endemic areas, however, are clusters of "hot spots" where high transmission still exists.
The areas where these pockets of high endemicity persist are characterized as rural, hilly or mountainous, having streams, remote and very hard to reach, frontier and regions (i.e. provincial or regional borders), populated by indigenous cultural groups, constricted by socio-political conflicts, areas in which "access to and availability of basic health services and correct information remain difficult for people at risk, and "among the poorest in the country (belonging to the fifth- and sixth-class municipalities) with meager financial resources to implement anti-malaria programs.
During the period from 1991 to 2000, Mindanao had the most number of malaria cases at 53 percent, followed by Luzon at 46 percent and Visayas at 1 percent. During the same period, some provinces were considered to be already malaria-free (with no more indigenous cases for at least three years). These were Cebu, Bohol, Catanduanes, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, Siquijor, Biliran, Iloilo, Leyte Norte, Leyte Sur, Northern Samar, and Camiguin. Of these provinces, though, some were still potentially malarious due to the presence of the malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
More recent data provided by the Department of Health (for the period from 2001 to 2005), identify the provinces with no significant improvement in the last 10 years or where the malaria situation had worsened in the last 5 years: Cagayan, Isabela, Palawan, Davao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Apayao, and Sultan Kudarat.
On the brighter side, according to The Department of Healh, The Philippines is on course of eliminating malaria in the Philippines by 2020. Today at the 2014 Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network (APMEN) VI in Makati, the Philippines joins other country partners in the region to share country successes and challenges in malaria elimination and preparation of plans that will focus on regional cooperation, advocacy, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building.
“We are pleased to welcome the Asia-Pacific Malaria Elimination Network [APMEN], a network of 14 Asia-Pacific countries working towards the elimination of malaria as a public health threat in each of our countries, as they hold their 6th annual meeting here,” Secretary of Health Enrique Ona declared.
The Health Chief noted that malaria cases in the country declined since the mid-2000s, and has resulted in an 83% reduction from 2005 to 2013, while there was a 92% reduction in the number of deaths within the same period. The number of cases went down from 46,342 cases in 2005 to 7,720 in 2013. Deaths were 150 in 2005 to 12 to last year. The Philippines has achieved the Millennium Development Goal target for 2015 as early as 2008.
Of 53 known provinces that are endemic for the disease, 27 have already been declared malaria-free. These were Cavite, Batangas, Marinduque, Catanduanes, Albay, Masbate, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Western Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Northern Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Camiguin, Surigao Del Norte, Benguet, Romblon, Batanes, and Dinagat Islands.
Malaria is a disease caused by parasite called Plasmodium. It is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito vector, Anopheles. The disease usually thrives in the rural and hard-to-reach areas such as in the hills, mountains and coastal areas. Disease transmission is perennial and generally higher during the rainy season.
High-risk groups consist of upland subsistence farmers, forest workers, indigenous people and settlers in frontier areas, including migrant agricultural workers. Children under-five are also considered to be at high risk, including pregnant women.
Secretary Ona looks forward to the success of the meeting and the recommendations of the country partners in galvanizing workable and sustainable solutions that seek to address gaps in accelerating malaria elimination while fostering regional cooperation and promoting scientific breakthroughs.
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