Efforts to prevent the return of malaria

Staff of Nhu Xuan District Health Center monitor malaria-transmitting mosquitoes at the grassroots level.

Identifying that raising people's awareness of malaria prevention and control is an important factor to minimize the number of people with clinical malaria and prevent the disease from spreading into an epidemic, the Provincial Center for Disease Control annually develops a plan to ensure compliance with the goals of the Ministry of Health and the Central Institute of Malaria - Parasitology - Entomology; develops and strengthens the monitoring and evaluation system from the province to the grassroots level; develops procedures and guidelines for monitoring and supervision at each level; strengthens management and close supervision of areas with migrant populations; implements chemical spraying campaigns for households living in malaria-endemic areas. At the same time, directs and guides medical centers in districts, towns and cities to be proactive in regular monitoring of malaria parasites; strengthens propaganda on malaria prevention and control; provides documents and guidelines on propaganda content for medical centers in districts, towns and cities to organize propaganda on malaria prevention and control at local health stations. From the career budget, we have monitored epidemics in districts, towns and cities. From the RAI Project budget, we have monitored epidemics and provided professional support to districts and communes under the project.

Monitoring results show that 100% of units have developed and fully implemented activities to prevent and control malaria and maintain malaria elimination achievements; monthly reporting on the eCDS system, monitoring population movements, and properly preserving medicines and supplies. Strengthening close monitoring of subjects who frequently enter and exit areas with malaria epidemics, have contact with domestic and foreign sources of infection, especially those returning to their localities from malaria-endemic areas.

In 2024, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Center for Disease Control conducted malaria epidemiological surveillance in 41 districts and 82 communes, wards and towns; monitored glass points in 19 districts and 32 communes; monitored malaria vectors at 7 investigation points in 7 districts (Quan Son, Lang Chanh, Thuong Xuan, Nhu Xuan, Nga Son, Vinh Loc and Nghi Son town), the malaria situation was stable. During the year, 3 imported malaria patients were recorded from abroad. In the first 3 months of 2025, the center conducted epidemiological surveillance in 1 district, monitored malaria vectors at 1 point; monitored glass points to detect malaria parasites at 1 point and 2 communes in Thach Thanh district. Also in the first 3 months of 2025, the malaria situation was stable, with a total of 1,922 test tubes, detecting 1 imported malaria patient in Quang Xuong district from abroad.

Sharing about the efforts in malaria prevention, control and elimination, Deputy Director of the Provincial Center for Disease Control Do Thanh Tung said that in order to be recognized as meeting the criteria for malaria elimination, every year the unit regularly organizes activities to monitor the malaria epidemiological situation in localities; outbreaks are thoroughly handled, preventing the spread and outbreak of the disease in the community; maintaining microscopy points for blood smear testing for malaria parasites in localities. Techniques for diagnosing and treating malaria have been improved and met requirements; the health system's monitoring and detection capacity has been enhanced and comprehensively covered; malaria epidemiological zoning has been implemented for each district and commune... At the same time, training courses on malaria epidemiological surveillance, guidance on malaria diagnosis, treatment and testing techniques have been organized for officials working in malaria prevention and control from the province to the grassroots level; ensuring enough anti-malarial drugs for treatment and self-treatment for people.

Malaria is an acute fever caused by the Plasmodium parasite, transmitted from sick people to healthy people through the bite of Anopheles mosquitoes. To prevent this disease, the Provincial Center for Disease Control recommends that people who have symptoms of chills, fever, followed by sweating or feeling cold, go to the nearest medical facility immediately for a blood test to find the parasite and receive timely treatment, avoid complications and prevent infection to people around. There is currently no vaccine to prevent the disease, but the disease can be prevented and cured. To effectively prevent and control malaria, it is necessary to proactively apply proactive disease prevention measures such as sleeping under mosquito nets to avoid mosquito bites; implementing measures to kill mosquitoes and destroy mosquito shelters; regularly cleaning the environment, clearing bushes, unclogging sewers, and moving livestock pens away from the house.

World Malaria Day 2025 with the theme "Ending malaria starts with us: Reinvest, reimagine, ignite hope", aims to raise awareness of urgent and necessary actions in the fight against malaria, emphasizing the importance of continued investment, innovation, cooperation and commitment from the global malaria eradication community. Malaria prevention and control is not only the effort of the health sector alone but also requires the participation of Party committees, authorities, departments, sectors, organizations and people to promote communication work, raise awareness, join hands to repel and prevent malaria from returning, contributing to protecting the province's malaria elimination achievements and aiming to eliminate malaria nationwide by 2030.

Article and photos: To Ha

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/no-luc-phong-chong-benh-sot-ret-quay-tro-lai-246671.htm