Malaria endemic in Phl, 9 other Western Pacific countries

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is one of the 10 countries in the Western Pacific that are endemic for malaria, a disease transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitoes, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the other day.

WHO identified the other countries as Cambodia, China, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.

“In 2010, more than 262,000 confirmed malaria cases and about 900 malaria deaths were reported in the region,” WHO said.

Worldwide, 216 million people get afflicted with the disease, which kills 655,000 of them.

WHO describes malaria as a disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. 

Dr. Shin Young-soo, WHO director for Western Pacific, has urged countries in the region to “scale up proven, cost-effective tools to fight malaria — or risk losing ground against this preventable, treatable disease that has claimed countless lives.”

“National malaria programs need to ensure widespread population access to life-saving and cost-effective interventions,” Shin said.

“The preservation of the gains against malaria depends on the disease remaining a priority for global, regional and national decision-makers and donors,” he added.

Shin made the call as part of the observance of World Malaria Day yesterday.

He said it is “crucial that efforts are sustained and expanded and that there will be more national and international political commitment, resources and support for ongoing research and development for new and better tools to combat emerging threats, such as drug and insecticide resistance.”

Over the past decade, many countries in the region have already reduced the burden of malaria, but WHO underscored the need for nations to keep their guard against the disease.

He cited the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets as a simple, cost-effective tool that has been proven to reduce child deaths by approximately 20 percent and malaria cases by half.

“Successful malaria control improves not only the health of people living in high-risk areas, but also their productivity and overall well being,” Shin said.