Anti-malaria needs to reach remote areas

 By PISAI GUMAR

MOROBE Governor Kelly Naru says anti-malaria drugs and prevention methods must be made available in the remotest parts of the country.

He was speaking at the launching of the 49th medical symposium fundraising drive last Friday. 

The symposium has been scheduled for September in Lae.

Naru said despite various breakthroughs in research and medicine, people still struggled to cope with malaria which, along with pneumonia, had claimed many lives, including  those of infants.

“Malaria is a serious threat to the nation affecting infants, young and old people,” he said.

“The impact of malaria does affect the workforce and the economy when production rates drop.”  

The theme for the symposium is “malaria past, present and future”.

Doctors from various units and staff of Angau Memorial Hospital attended.

A doctors’ group from the hospital pledged K14,700 to the symposium. 

Naru and Lae MP Loujaya Toni pledged K50,000 each while K60,300 was committed by various companies and individuals. 

A total of K175,000 was raised.

Naru told the medical fraternity that malaria and pneumonia incurred huge costs to the government. 

International organisations want systems in place to ensure drugs and preventive measures reach rural and urban areas.  

Vice-president of the PNG Medical Society and director of the Medical Research Institute Prof Peter Siba said the symposium was an opportunity for doctors to discuss, argue and share research findings.

The PNG health ministry and medical authorities continued to warn people, particularly in rural areas, to avoid the disease by ensuring mosquito breeding places were cleared regularly.

The Rotary club recently announced its “adopt a village mission” which it hopes would help fight the disease over the next few years.

“Malaria is a fact of life for the average person (in PNG) and sees more than 1.2 million struck down each year,” the club said. 

“Our aim is to halve both the morbidity and mortality of malaria over the next five years.”

The club has divided the country into manageable portions for delivery.