Reduction in Malaria cases recorded in 2016, against 2015 – Min. Lawrence

DPI, Guyana, Friday, December 8, 2017

One of the major achievements for the Ministry of Public Health has been the significant decrease in detected malaria cases throughout Guyana.

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence during the budget debates, said that there has been a “15 percent reduction of malaria cases; from 13,245 in 2015 to 11,149 in 2016.”

The Minister credited the reduction to the interventions made by the Ministry of Public Health’s Vector Control Services (VCS), in identifying and treating cases of malaria in a timely manner.

More specifically, she noted the VCS has intensified malaria testing and treatment in the hinterland and mining areas where the virus is more prevalent.

Minister Lawrence explained that the department has managed to pilot Rapid Diagnostic testing for malaria at the community level. This new programme has been critical to the diagnosing and treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Region Eight. “This is a proposed model for countries with Malaria and has been endorsed by World Health Organisation (WHO) with aim of early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of deaths,” she explained.

Meanwhile, other successes achieved include the adjustment and updating of the National Malaria Treatment Guidelines. Mosquito-borne diseases have been identified as a major cause of illnesses and deaths, so these guidelines will facilitate advanced research and tools to fight malaria. This will help transform how other infectious diseases, like the Zika Virus, are combatted, the Minister said.

A National Malaria Oversight Committee has also been established to help combat Malaria based on the recommendation of Malaria Policy Advisory Committee, WHO.

 

By: Delicia Haynes

 

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