In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

Bulacan aims to be malaria-free by 2019

By Emil Gamos

November 11, 2017, 2:35 pm

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan -- Provincial officials, together with stakeholders from various sectors here, have pledged their commitment to make Bulacan malaria-free by 2019.

Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado and Vice Governor Daniel Fernando led the signing of a manifesto in support of the programs of the Department of Health (DOH) and anti-malaria advocacy groups during the observance of the “Malaria Awareness Month 2017” that was anchored on the theme, “End Malaria for Good – Lead the Way to Malaria-Free Bulacan 2019” at The Pavillion of the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center here Friday.

Alvarado said the provincial government will also allocate funds for the eradication of the mosquito-borne disease.

The governor called malaria an unseen enemy and a “plague of mankind”.

“Even during the Filipino-American war when the Philippines was on the twilight of its independence, malaria even helped the cause of the Filipino revolutionaries against the conquering American troops, most of whom were wiped out by the mosquito-borne killer disease,” Alvarado said.

However, modern medicine has already identified the “unseen enemy” and found the cure, he said.
“Now we know the enemy – mosquitoes – and we should not let them defeat us. We should not allow the mosquitoes to ruin the strong, peaceful and progressive community.

We have to end malaria for good, we have to end it now,” Alvarado said.

For his part, Fernando said the Sangguniang Panglalawigan will pass a resolution totally supporting all interventions and programs to end malaria in Bulacan.

Bulacan would be the 41st province in the Philippines and the second in Central Luzon to be declared as malaria-free if the goal to eradicate the disease would be realized, according to Dr. Antonio Bautista, the event's guest of honor and speaker.

Bautista is the deputy program manager for field operation of the Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc., a leading advocacy group in wiping the malaria menace in the country.

He said with the full support of the national government, local government units, the health sectors, civic groups and the community, the Philippines will be malaria-free by 2030.

Bulacan provincial health officer Joy Gomez said that this is the fifth year with no recorded incident of malaria in the province.

She expressed belief that the goal can be reached because of well-trained health workers and the full support of all sectors and stakeholders. (PNA)

Comments