LAOAG CITY—The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, through its Provincial Health Office (PHO), is continuing its efforts to sustain a malaria-free status in the past six years.
The PHO said it has succeeded in eliminating malaria since 2012, having zero reported case up to this time.
As a performance-based grant, the Department of Health Regional Office 1 is set to release PHP1 million to Ilocos Norte in support of its continuing programs and activities for the prevention and control of malaria disease.
On Monday, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan unanimously approved a resolution, authorizing Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos to execute and sign in behalf of the Ilocos Norte government a memorandum of agreement to sustain a malaria-free province.
In time for the rainy season, Provincial Board member Da Vinci Crisostomo said there is a need to pass the urgent resolution to carry out programs, projects and activities against the disease.
According to Dr. Rogelio Balbag, also a Provincial Board member and chair of the committee on health, the PHP1 million fund from the DOH will be used specifically for transportation expenses, food and accommodations, purchase of equipment and insecticides, continuing information and education drive, among others.
“It’s important to prevent occurrence of malaria. Compared to dengue, malaria is more dangerous,” said Balbag. He reported that the PHO, in coordination with other local government units, is conducting periodic spraying of insecticides particularly in the border provinces of Cagayan, Mountain Province, Kalinga and Apayao with reported malaria cases.
Earlier, a malaria elimination hub equipped with diagnostic capabilities was established in the province to keep the disease at bay. (Leilanie Adriano/PNA)