Mr. Ro Mah Huan - Director of the Center of Malaria, Parasite and Insect Prevention reported: The province has 164 communes in malaria epedemic area with a population of over 1 million. The key areas of malaria are: Krong Pa, Ia Pa, Duc Co, Chu Prong and Ia Grai. There are many reasons for malaria to increase: the source of diseases (particularly parasites) circulates among the high population; the work of detecting and managing patients at the grassroots level is not effective enough; precaurious weather conditions make mosquitoes and malaria parasites thrive. In addition, there is an increase of population immigration to malaria prevalent areas. The situation that  malaria parasite are resistant to Artemisinin - one of the most effective treatment drugs today - is at high risk of spreading; The communication on prevention and control of malaria health is still limited in the areas of severe malaria, where there is a large number of mobile population.

“People in the communes regularly go to the forest and sleep there. In recent years, communication has been strengthened so that people's awareness of malaria prevention and control has been raised, but there are still many people with subjective attitudes have been infected with diseases. Since the beginning of the year, our commune has detected 8 malaria cases” said Mr. Nay Tlop - officer of Health Station of Dat Bang commune (Krong Pa district).

In Dak Ko Ning commune (Kong Chro district), malaria remains a potential risk. According to the deputy head of the health facility in Trieu Trong Nam, the commune has 2 key villages for malaria, namely, Ket and Nhang Nho, in which the number of people are forest goers and forest sleepers accounts for nearly 50%.

In order to prevent and fight against malaria, it is highly effective not only to have close coordination of all levels and sectors but also to build a community network to joining hand for help. That is why the project "Strengthening community participation in malaria prevention and control in Vietnam" was implemented simultaneously in 149 communes with the highest prevalence of malaria of 4 provinces including Binh Phuoc, Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Dak Nong by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria from 2018-2020. In Gia Lai, there are 74 communes in 14 districts participating in the project. Through a network of collaborators from high-risk community groups, the project focuses on preventive interventions and connection to existing local health services for those at high risk of malaria infection.

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At the workshop to introduce and discuss on coordination of the project "Enhancing community participation in prevention and elimination of malaria in Vietnam" held in Pleiku on December 4, Ms. Khuat Thi Hai Oanh - Director of the Center for Supporting Community Development Initiative (SCDI) emphasized: The project focuses on the provinces with the most malaria; working with the group of people with the highest risk of malaria but difficult to access ..., contributing to reducing malaria morbidity and mortality in the project communes. In particular, the specific objective is to strengthen the participation of mobile communities who are hard to access. The goal of project is  the prevention and support activities for sending, testing and adherence to malaria treatment for members of the communities through capacity building of groups and community networks in project communes.

Within the framework of the project, activities will be actively implemented in the next future. Accordingly, the anti-malaria community groups in the project communes will be established and put into operation. This is an important factor in communication, contributing to malaria elimination in the province.

Source: BaoGiaLai