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A malaria-infected patient is being cured in Van Canh district’s medical clinic |
Alongside such factors as germ, vector-borne disease, and natural conditions, Binh Dinh also faces the migration fluctuation as well as shortcomings in the malaria control at grass roots level, said head of Quy Nhon Institute of Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology Trieu Nguyen Trung.
Binh Dinh was listed in the group of 34 provinces implementing the malaria elimination program in 2012, under the national project on malaria prevention and control. Do you think the distribution is reasonable?
It’s not reasonable as provinces in central and Central Highlands regions see a higher rate of malaria parasite, malaria-related deaths, and other risks, compared to northern and southern regions.
The malaria rate in Binh Dinh went down in the period 2006-2010, but it was not sustainable. In 2011, the province was one of localities seeing the partial increase of malaria cases. The rate has decreased by 2 percent in the first three months of this year, but the number of external malaria cases went up by 7.5 percent.
Alongside such factors as germ, vector-borne disease, and natural conditions, Binh Dinh also faces the migration fluctuation as well as shortcomings in the malaria control at grass roots level.
Far and remote areas, where ethnic minority people often spend their whole day in the forest, are flashpoints of malaria.
According to what you said, Binh Dinh is now in the stage of malaria prevention and control and it’s necessary to spend the active step before eliminating malaria.
The fact that Binh Dinh was listed in the group of provinces eliminating malaria doesn’t reflect the reality if the distribution is only based on the malaria reduction in a particular stage. The important issue is to base on distinctive features of malaria in the region as well as other risks mentioned above.
The institute asked for the adjustment. Accordingly, Binh Dinh will belong to the group of 12 provinces spending the active stage of malaria prevention and control by 2015.
The migration fluctuation related to the issue of malaria prevention and control has been questioned for years, but why has the health sector yet to control it?
We must admit the number of migrant laborers infected with malaria is higher than fixed residents despite all-out effort. To deal with the problem, the communication is the main solution; besides, medical centers at grass roots level also play an important role.
Has the institute proposed any measures against the popularization of the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which causes malignant malaria?
HCM City-based Institute of Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology found an anti-drug case in Binh Phuoc province in early 2011. Quy Nhon-based institute also discovered the parasite P.falciparum was widely against many types of drugs, causing difficulties for the malaria treatment and death reduction.
The institute is proposing a plan to coordinate with a foreign health organization to study measures against the anti-drug issue in the region, including Binh Dinh.
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