Jayapura Health Office secretary Harirul Lie said here Tuesday the number of malaria infected people had declined despite the fact that Papua is a malaria endemic region.
"The local health office has been making intensive efforts to fight the disease in Jayapura and the results are now visible," he said.
The malaria-fighting efforts consisted of the provision of free medication and mosquito nets to residents.
Besides, the health office also disseminated information about the causes of malaria and how to curb it in the endemic area.
In previous years, malaria used to top the 10 most prevalent diseases in Papua but in 2011 it had dropped to third place.
"In 2011, malaria dropped to the third position after Tuberculosis (TBC) and Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), this achievement is remarkable," he said.
For further handling of the disease, in 2012 the health department of public health which assisted by the community health centers such as community health centers (Puskesmas), integrated health centers (Pustu) and village-based community maternity health clinics (Polindes).
Despite that the local health office is still lack of medical personnel especially midwives, but it maximizes the existing personnel and maximizing the dissemination of the importance of good personal hygiene, as well as performs routine house fogging.
"Clean lifestyle dissemination is also very important, because the disease is not infecting from the malaria seed itself, but unsanitary live style can lead to various diseases," he said.
(Uu.A050/HAJM/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
