Negros Occidental has achieved a malaria-free status, the Department of Health said.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that, after reviewing the Negros Occidental Malaria Elimination Report and supplementary surveillance documents, she supports the malaria-free claim of the province.
In her letter to DOH 6 regional director Ricardo Suba-an, Vergeire congratulated all the health workers concerned for their “remarkable commitment and dedication to their jobs all throughout the years.”
But Vergeire said the gains should be maintained through the provincial elimination hub that should undertake surveillance and response, health promotion, and malaria case management, including the orientation of front-line providers.
She stressed the need to ensure a continuous access to malaria-diagnosis and treatment through general health services, strengthen malaria case surveillance and response system, and maintain an effective malaria program monitoring and evaluation system.
To be declared malaria-free, a province must have, among others, no indigenous case of malaria for five consecutive years. — GB
