LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – After maintaining a five-year status of no malaria case, the province of Pangasinan was officially declared by the Department of Health as “malaria-free” this year.
“Ang pagpapanatili ng magandang kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan ay nagbunga ng ating pagiging malaria-free province,” said Governor Amado I. Espino, III during the presentation of the award after the regular flag-raising ceremony at the Capitol Plaza on October 1.
Commending the efforts of the Provincial Health Office led by Dr. Anna Ma. Theresa S. De Guzman, Governor Espino said that this recognition reflects the joint sacrifices of local government units (LGU) and the provincial governmen
Signed by Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, the Cetificate of Recognition was conferred by the Department of Health (DOH) to the province of Pangasinan last September 13 in Manila after a one-year validation in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO).
Pangasinan received this recognition after keeping a “zero malaria case” since 2012 up to the present, the provincial health officer explained adding that in Region I, Pangasinan and Ilocos Norte are the only recipients of the aforementioned award.
“Magmula po 2012 hanggang 2017 nang tayo ay dumaan sa evaluation ay wala po tayong naitalang kaso ng malaria at hanggang sa kasalukuyan kaya po tayo ay naideklarang malaria-free,” the PHO Chief said.
Dr. De Guzman stressed that through the consistent programs and undertakings of the provincial government also with joint efforts with LGUs, the drive to fully eradicate malaria has prospered.
Among the measures conducted by the provincial government was the “boarder operations” or simultaneous fogging with neighboring provinces, such as, Zambales to prevent the spread of malaria-carrying mosquito larvae.
“Tayo rin po ay namigay ng treated mosquito nets sa ating mga indigenous people (IP) groups sa malalayong lugar,” Dr. De Guzman added.
Accordingly, the provincial government is working with various colleges and universities in Dagupan City and San City in conducting blood smearing to foreign students to ensure that no ‘imported malaria case’ will enter the province of Pangasinan.
Dr. De Guzman said that with the recognition, the province of Pangasinan received P1-Million which will be used in furthering the activities and programs in Pangasinan to maintain its good standing in drive against malaria cases.
Driven to make Pangasinan “disease-free zone,” Dr. De Guzman disclosed that the PHO is also eyeing to drastically reduce rabies cases in the province. Inspired by the declining reported number of rabies cases – from 19 cases in 2016 to 6 cases this year, the PHO is keenly coordinating with Provincial Veterinary for the conduct of dog vaccination in Pangasinan.
/Shiella Mae C. De Guzman (Photos by Meinard Sadim)
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