Malabag: Malaria is everyone’s business

Caption:   Minister Malabag (center) between Central Governor Kila Haoda (L) and Rigo MP Ano Pala (R)

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, April 27, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THAT was the message from Minister for Health and HIV and AIDS, Michael Malabag, at the launch of the National Malaria Control Strategic Plan to coincide with World Malaria Day on Friday, at the Rigo district village of Kemabolo, in the Central Province.

Guests at the launch included the Governor for Central Kila Haoda, Minister for Transport and Rigo MP Ano Pala, WHO Representatives, donor partners, and officers from the Department of Health.

In his address, the Minister for Health Michael said that malaria was everybody’s business, pointing out that the disease was one of the leading causes for hospital admissions.

Something the minister referred to as being the main reason why the national government wanted to combat head on through investing in plans like the National Malaria Control Strategic Plan.

“No one is immune to malaria, each and every one of us in PNG will have been affected by it at any point in our lives,” the minister said.

“It kills our people, affects the economic productivity of our population, and also affects the education of our children.”

“The Malaria Control Strategic plan provides us with the guidance to implementing and sourcing recourses for the next five years to reduce sicknesses and deaths caused by malaria.”

He said that it would take a collective approach by everyone from the government organisation, right down to the individual to effectively combat the disease.

“It takes a government that remains engaged in the fight, donor to pledge funding, and to fulfil this it takes NGO’s, community based organisations, faith based organisation to the individuals to reduce the burden of malaria.”

“Malaria kills 7,000 people each year in PNG, making 1.9 million sick every year, with 90% of our 7 plus people at risk everywhere in the country.”

World Health Organisation Representative Dr Pieter Van Maaren pointed out on a global scale of how the disease affects 207 million people and taking the lives of 627,000 people every year worldwide.

He, however, emphasised that it was important that the government and its partners maintain the successes they have had to keep the numbers at bay.

“A well organised system of professions and donor partners goes a long way in the fight against malaria,” Maaren said.

The village of Kemabolo was flooded with vital awareness information, medicines, and treated mosquito nets, with a special guest appearance from the 2015 South Pacific Games mascot Tura the Kokomo on hand to take part in the commemorations.