Angeles City—– “Pampanga is almost free of malaria.”
Thus said Jolly Garcia, head of the Pampanga Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) of the provincial health office (PHO) as the province joined the Department of Health (DOH) and the city government here in celebrating the “Malaria World Day 2018”.
The celebration was held at Sapang Bato Elementary School, Sapang Bato, this city yesterday, April 15.
Garcia said the province is set to be proclaimed malaria free but still in the process of completing the supporting papers needed.
The PESU head said in 2007, 59 cases of malaria were reported in the mountainous areas of Porac town particularly in the Barangays of Diaz, Inararo, Villa Maria and Sapang Uwak. In 2008, there was no reported case. In 2009, twelve cases were reported in Mabalacat City particularly in Sitio Calapi and Sitio Haduan, Barangay Marcos Village.
While in Sapang Bato Angeles City, there were 8 cases reported in Sitio Little Baguio and Sitio Bliss.
In 2010, 22 cases were reported in the province – 18 in Mabalacat City, one in Angeles City and three in Porac town.
However, from August 2010 up to this year, the province has no reported case of malaria, especially from the mountainous area.
In Central Luzon, Bataan province was already proclaimed Malaria Free.
AIDA B. BUNGUE
