There are still hot spots
Sharing about the current developments of malaria in Vietnam, Dr. Hoang Dinh Canh, Director of the Central Institute of Malaria, Parasitology, and Entomology said: Currently, the number of malaria cases is mainly concentrated in a few districts.
The hottest spot is Khanh Vinh district (Khanh Hoa province) with the number of malaria cases being 208/448 (2023), accounting for nearly half of the cases nationwide. In the first 3 months of 2024, Khanh Hoa had 78/115 cases of malaria.
The malaria site in Muong Te, Lai Chau records about 100 cases/year, which is one of the places where we have invested heavily for many years but still cannot stamp out the epidemic.
Meanwhile, in 46 provinces, malaria has been eliminated, but foreign malaria still appears in large numbers. For example, in 2023, the country will have 448 cases of malaria detected, half of which are imported cases, especially people returning from Africa and the region.
According to Dr. Hoang Dinh Canh, malaria has certain characteristics. It is a parasite that exists in humans and even exists in monkeys and animals. The source of this disease and parasite can appear in a hidden form, meaning that a healthy person carries the parasite in the liver and they have no symptoms of the disease.
Malaria parasites can “sleep” in the liver for years after years, even decades. And one fine day, it comes out, grows, enters the bloodstream and causes disease. When it is hidden, it seems we don’t know, because there are no signs and symptoms and normal testing will not detect it, even PCR testing is difficult to detect.
Difficulties and challenges pile up
Currently, the malaria epidemic is still complicated because it is mainly concentrated in remote areas and ethnic minority areas. Traveling and reaching out to people who live mainly in the forest and in the fields is very difficult. They also have difficulty accessing services as well as testing and treatment.
Moreover, people’s subjective and negligent mentality when thinking that the epidemic is over, there is no backup plan. Even at medical facilities, there are places where malaria is subjective and cannot be diagnosed. In 2023, there will be 2 deaths due to late diagnosis.
When the epidemic shows signs of abating, foreign aid, domestic investment, and human resources are also cut. This leads to a reduction in monitoring activities and warning systems. The risk of malaria returning in provinces and cities that have had epidemics is very high.
In addition, currently the force of health workers working on malaria prevention at district and commune levels is very thin. Especially in mountainous areas, operations are difficult, hindering the travel and medical examination and treatment process of medical staff.
“To eliminate malaria by 2030, I think we have experience in eliminating some diseases such as leprosy, tuberculosis, tetanus… The lesson learned is the involvement of the entire government system. Administration, departments and the core role of the health sector is to go to every alley, knock on every house, and check every subject to detect cases and treat them early and promptly” – Dr. Canh emphasized.
At the same time, there must be a plan to build a national strategy to eliminate malaria by 2030. Vietnam already has a 10-year strategy (2011-2020), now it is necessary to develop a new strategy aimed at mobilizing participation. of government departments and unions at all levels joining hands with the health sector. Without a strategy, many localities neglect and do not care about investing funds to prevent malaria. At that time, malaria will have conditions to flare up again.
Next, the health system must be re-established in the context of malaria prevention returning to eliminated provinces. The testing system needs to be rearranged at a low density and there must be assignment of where to go when there is a case.
“For example, we plan to have testing points at medical centers and hospitals. For the remaining communes far from the center, each commune must have a testing point. The drug supply system is similar. , rather than providing drugs widely as before” – Dr. Canh said.
In addition, it is necessary to build a proactive monitoring system for patients, especially foreigners returning from abroad. Second is mosquito monitoring, to warn people in which areas mosquitoes are growing and are at risk of outbreaks.
If Vietnam can eliminate malaria, it will be one of the bright spots in the region in eliminating a dangerous and challenging epidemic for humanity.
April 25 every year is World Malaria Day (WMD) proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and endorsed and promulgated by the United Nations. This day was created with the purpose of promoting global efforts to control malaria, a dangerous disease that claims the lives of many people around the world.
