(Metro News) Caloocan receives special mosquito nets from DOH
September 10, 2009 9:36 am
MANILA, Sept. 10 — The Caloocan City Government received Thursday an added boost in its anti-malaria campaign from the Department of Health (DOH) with insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri personally thanked Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III for “stringing up” these insect repellant bed nets and donating them to some 2,000 families of Pangarap Village in Barangays 181 and 182.
The health secretary visited the city as part of his “Dalaw Barangay” program against malaria wherein the two barangays were chosen because of their reported incidence of malaria since last year.
A recent surveillance report from the Caloocan Health Department, documented a total of 37 confirmed malaria cases with zero death from sentinel hospitals and health centers across the city.
Echiverri, however, said the distribution of mosquito nets is just a part of the government's efforts to eliminate, or at least prevent, the burden of malaria.
“Educational campaigns, especially in schools and barangays help ensure nets are used properly. Likewise, our City Health Department has been promoting the implementation of a city-wide anti-malaria action plan,” he noted.
For her part, City Health Officer Dr. Raquel So-Sayo explained that malaria is caused by protozoan parasites called Plasmodium which are usually transmitted through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito; through blood transfusion of a positive for malaria parasites; sharing of IV needles especially among IV drug users; and from an infected mother to her unborn child.
The city health officer noted that the much improved health services provided by all city-funded health centers helped a lot in preventing malaria-related deaths. (PNA)
FFC/PFN
Comments