NONTHABURI – The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has enhanced disease control measures for Malaria, aiming to maintain malaria-free areas for at least 3 years while eliminating drug-resisting vitiates in border provinces, official says.
The MOPH Permanent-Secretary Sopon Mekthon has revealed the progress of malaria control measures in Thailand, that the MOPH has shifted focus from controlling the disease to elimination, which will be completed within the next 10 yeas.
Four strategies will be executed to achieve the malaria-free goal, namely the urgent control of outbreaks, the development of technology and innovation, heightened cooperation, and the promotion of self-prevention capability among the general public.
The MOPH is now aiming to create malaria-free environment in the entire nation for at least 3 years.
According to the Department of Disease Control’s (DDC) Director-General Amnuay Gajeena, Thailand has achieved a satisfactory outcome on malaria control with 36 percent less patients during 1 January 2015 to 7 January 2016, when compared to the same period of the previous year.
However, authorities must now focus on the elimination of drug-resistant malaria disease commonly found in 6 border provinces, namely Tak, Kanchanaburi, Rayong, Surin, Sisaket, and Trat, which cost 7-8 times more for effective treatment.
Decisive elimination of malaria will differ according to each specific area, while the focus remains on quickly identifying infections and providing immediate treatment to cut off the infection circuit, says DDC Director-General.
