Lao Cai takes measures to prevent the resurgence of malaria.

Việt Nam•25/04/2024

Thanks to the decisive involvement of all levels and sectors, malaria prevention and control in Lao Cai province has achieved significant results. In 2020, Lao Cai was recognized as having met the criteria for malaria elimination.

The theme for World Malaria Day 2024 is “Towards Ending Malaria in Vietnam,” aiming to widely communicate to the public about malaria prevention, control, and elimination.

From 1991 to 2000, Lao Cai province was in the active phase of malaria prevention and control. Many communes and districts were located in malaria-endemic areas. By 2000, Lao Cai had basically completed the National Target Program for Malaria Prevention and Control. However, the program still lacked sustainability and many potential epidemiological risks remained. Therefore, from 2001 to 2010, the number of malaria patients continued to increase.

By 2011, Lao Cai province implemented the National Strategy for Malaria Prevention, Control, and Elimination. After 10 years of implementation (2011-2020), the province's malaria prevention and control efforts achieved significant results. Malaria was pushed back year by year, with many years without any local malaria parasites, and no communes remaining in malaria-endemic areas. In 2020, Lao Cai completed the elimination of malaria throughout the province according to the roadmap stipulated by the Ministry of Health and received a certificate of malaria elimination from the National Institute of Malaria, Parasitology, and Entomology. By 2023, the malaria parasite incidence rate in the province was below 0.016/1,000 people, with no malaria outbreaks occurring.

To achieve these results, over the years, the provincial health sector has continuously strived to strengthen sustainable factors and maintain the malaria elimination results. Accordingly, vector control for mobile populations such as forest dwellers, border crossers, and migrants has always been ensured. Throughout the periods, investigation and surveillance activities to detect cases have been maintained; suspected malaria cases are diagnosed using rapid tests or microscopy; and there is good coordination between the treatment and prevention systems...

Dr. Le Ha Bac, Head of the Parasitology - Entomology Department (Provincial Center for Disease Control), said: Although the province has been recognized as having met the criteria for malaria elimination, the provincial health sector always pays close attention and does not take the disease lightly. Strengthening surveillance and early detection of cases is the main goal of Lao Cai province in the coming period.

This proactive approach is entirely justified, as Lao Cai faces numerous potential risks that could lead to a resurgence and spread of malaria within the community. Analysis shows that Lao Cai is a mountainous province with weather, climate, and environment favorable for the breeding and development of mosquitoes, especially those that transmit malaria. Furthermore, Lao Cai borders provinces where malaria is still endemic, such as Lai Chau and Ha Giang (Vietnam), and Yunnan (China), making it difficult to control population movements, cross-border interactions, and especially seasonal migration to malaria-endemic areas. In addition, some people, particularly those in mountainous regions, do not use mosquito nets when sleeping in their fields; environmental and household hygiene is still inadequate; and people remain complacent in disease prevention and control.

Based on the potential risk factors that could lead to the resurgence of malaria, the provincial health sector has developed a plan with specific goals and targets. Accordingly, the province strives to ensure the absence of domestic malaria parasites; 100% of suspected malaria cases will have their blood tested for malaria parasites; 100% of imported malaria cases will be detected, reported, investigated, managed, and treated promptly and correctly according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health; ensure that people have access to early malaria diagnosis services and timely, effective, and safe treatment; increase the coverage of appropriate malaria prevention and control measures for people at risk of malaria; improve the quality of the malaria epidemiological surveillance system and ensure the capacity to handle malaria outbreaks; and improve the knowledge and behavior of people in activities to prevent malaria entry...

Lao Cai is currently on alert to prevent the resurgence of malaria. Therefore, the health sector has been and continues to maintain awareness campaigns to educate the public; proactively implementing disease prevention measures such as mosquito spraying, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and clearing drainage ditches.