On April 9, 2009, the message on World Malaria Day was launched throughout the remote area of the moutainous village on the borderline with Laos, initializing the malaria control campaign in Quang Binh Province.
Situated at about 100km north-west of Dong Hoi City, Mo O O O village of Thuong Hoa commune (Minh Hoa district) was chosen with the Military Post No.585 to host the propagating ceremony of lauching the World Malaria Day for the whole province of Quang Binh this year. In order to reach this place, we had to take a farther famous Truong Son Highway, crossing the "World Heritage Phong Nha - Ke Bang", and "Tam Co Cavern", where 8 heroins laid down for the national independence in the anti-American War. The village of Mo O O O has a few hundred people, mainly the Ruc ethnic. Previously, the Ruc practised a mobilised way of living, tramping from caves to caves in deep forests for animal hunting and fruit picking. However, thanks to the attention of the Government and especially the mobilization of frontier guard soldiers, they have settled in state-supported houses. Nevertheless, they are still facing a great deal of difficulties and epidemic diseases, especially malaria.
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Route to Mo O O O village of Thuong Hoa commune
(Minh Hoa district) |
Like other provinces in the Central region of Vietnam, Quang Binh has been severely stricken by malaria, especially in the moutainous and border areas with Laos PDR, which are home to some ethnic minorities. In recent years, although malaria indicators (malaria cases, malaria positive cases, severe cases and deaths from the disease), have trends to decrease, these could not remain stabilized. This is because of the ability of the grass-roots health network (district, communal, village levels), not being able to detect early and promptly treat malaria patients, together with the people without any self-protection measures when entering the malaria-endemic areas. In the context of a possible return of malaria with high endemicity, the Quang Binh provincial health department chose Mo O O O village as a focus to launch the propaganda ceremony on malaria control and to transmit messages on the World Malaria Day, which provide an easy access for everyone to approach the information and participate actively in malaria control activities.
Attending the ceremony at Mo O O O village were the leaders of Quang Binh Health Department, the leaders of the Institude of Malariology Parasitology and Entomology Quy Nhon, leaders and professional staff of the District Health Centers in the province, leaders and staff of the Provincial Center for the Prevention of Malaria and Iodine Deficiency Disorders, the leaders of Vietnam-Cuba Dong Hoi Central Hospital, the Military Medical Units garrisoning in the province, other relating sector and the Quang Binh Radio Television and Quang Binh newspapers.
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Dr. Trieu Nguyen Trung, Director of IMPE
Quy Nhon in his speech at the ceremony |
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Dr. Nguyen Van Thuy, Deputy Director of
Quang Binh Provincial Health Department in his
speech at the ceremony |
In his speech of lauching the malaria control propagating campaign in 2009, Dr. Nguyen Van Thuy-Deputy Director of Quang Binh Provincial Health Department emphasized on the reduction of malaria situation compared with 2007, especially 20% lower malaria cases (20%), no deaths and no epidemics reported. However, in 2009 the malaria control activities in Quang Binh will be very difficult because of the high proportion of malaria parasites, and the appearance of malaria vectors in the endemic areas, thus advocating the very high risk of malaria transmission. These are coupled with the destruction of rain forests and the unusual weather changes, which create favourable conditions for mosquitoes to develop and transmit malaria. Another difficulty to control malaria goes to local people, who often go to work deep in the forests without any self protection measures, and usually avoid the management of local health facilities for malaria control measures. In addition, medical staff at all levels have neglected the achievements gained over years of malaria control, leading to the subjective tendency and therefore, lack of enthusiasm in controlling malaria.
In the 2009 targets of the province, Quang Binh will have malaria cases reduced by 5% compared with those of 2008; no severe cases and no malaria epidemics reported; and people's awareness of malaria control improved. To achieve these targets, the province will have to provide malaria treatment to 22,500 people, including 2,500 malaria patients and 20,000 people for self-treatment; examine 40,000 blood slides; apply vector control measures to protect 200,000 people, including 20,000 people by insecticide spraying and 180,000 by insecticide bednets impregnation. By doing these, the Deputy Director of Quang Binh Provincial Health Department directed hospitals and centers for preventive medicine to strengthen malaria control effectively.
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Participants to the | launching ceremony |
Responding the launching ceremony, Dr. Le Van Cu, Director of District Health Center of Le Thuy, representing other centers; Dr.Le Van Son, Head of Quang Ninh District Health Office, representing district health offices; Dr. Le Van Toan, Commander of military health units, representing military health units in the province and Mr.Cao Xuan Tao, Chairman of Thuong Hoa People's Committee signed the commitments of carrying out effectively malaria control activities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Trieu Nguyen Trung MD., Ph.D, Director of IMPE Quy Nhon stated the aims, meanings, importance of the World Malaria Day and launched malaria control campaign in Quang Binh province in particular and the Central Vietnam in general for 2009: concentrating to roll back malaria in highly-endemic areas and developing sustainable factors to prevent the return of malaria, coming to eliminate malaria following the targets of the World Health Organization (WHO); achieving the targets of malaria entrusted by the Ministry of Health in terms of reducing malaria morbidity and mortality, and no malaria epidemic at the locality.
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The propaganda cars in the launching ceremony on World Malaria Day 25-4 |
Before the launching ceremony on World Malaria Day and malaria control campaign in Quang Binh, the representatives had been enjoyed the music show by artists in Quang Binh cutural art groups. The information of the ceremony was transmited on radio, newspapers, television to help people understand malaria control activities.
Responding World Malaria Day, in 2009, Quang Binh province and other provinces in the Central Vietnam will continue to gain achievable targets in malaria control to contribute to reducing the disease burden and bringing good health and productivity to people.