PHO seeks malaria-free status for province
LINGAYEN— The provincial health office (PHO) is set to do an evaluation whether the province can still be declared malaria-free in the next three years.
According to PHO chief, Dr. Anna De Guzman, her office already received guidelines on how to do the assessment in areas that are considered high risks for malaria.
These areas are mostly in the First District (Infanta, Mabini, Agno, and Bani); Second District (Mangatarem) in the Fifth District (Sison), De Guzman said.
De Guzman noted no endemic malaria cases have been reported in these towns.
She said the only reported cases involved persons who contracted malaria in places outside of Pangasinan like Subic and Africa.
It will be recalled that Pangasinan was declared a malaria-free province in 2012. Such declaration was valid for three years or from January 2012 to December 2015.
Meanwhile, the PHO recorded 25% of dengue cases more this year, as compared to the same comparative period last year.
She said the number will still go higher because the rainy season has just started.
The towns in the watch list that reported cases are Asingan, Malasiqui, Bayambang, San Carlos City, Pozorrubio, Calasiao, San Manuel, Lingayen, Manaoag, and Mangaldan.
She said the health office has been intensified its information drive against dengue and increased its inventory of treated mosquito nets for schools. (Johanne Macob)
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