Anti-malaria nets used for fishing and farming, DOH laments
She said it was the Department of Social Welfare and Development that identified the beneficiaries from among the poorest of the poor, through the conditional cash transfer program.
Another priority areas for the nets are far-flung communities with identified cases of malaria and dengue.
The mosquito nets, called long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN), are part of the agency’s strengthening of vector control against malaria, according to a presentation Ebol showed to awardees and officials from the region’s malaria program at the Royal Mandaya Hotel last Friday.
Ebol said that communities should also avail of the DOH’s indoor residual spraying program to deter the entry of the mosquitoes from their homes.
Vector control prevents malaria transmission by reducing human-vector contact, decreasing vector population, increasing adult vector mortality, and preventing and controlling epidemics, she said.
Ebol said new measures were in place to increase awareness and distribute more LLINs in the region’s far-flung communities.
But the city isn’t safe from the disease yet, she said.||| |||buy bactroban online with |||
As of 2013, Davao City’s malaria situation fell under the stable-medium category, with three cases recorded as of 2013.
She said there were three cases in Paquibato and that the DOH was already treating the patients and provided the communities with the necessary response.
“Actually, what’s more dangerous are factors that are external from the communities,” Ebol said.
She said that any community that was safe from malaria would be placed in danger if there was a visitor who came from an area with a recorded case.
DOH regional director Abdullah Dumama said the region is aiming to become malaria-free, with no indigenous case declared for at least five years.
“We’re targetting that, maybe by 2016,” he said. “But as far as attaining the disease-free region status is concerned, we’re still a little behind so far.”
However, Dumama said that Davao del Norte was on its way to being declared malaria free. “It’s within striking distance.”
Ebol said Davao City is also affected by threats of cases from neighboring areas such as Bukidnon.