A young boy receives a malaria vaccine in Kakab commune’s Chamkar Ovloek village in the capital’s Por Sen Chey district. File Photo Heng Chivoan
Prime Minister Hun Sen has called on all government authorities at all levels to continue their support for the Ministry of Health’s mission to carry out the National Strategic Plan for Elimination of Malaria in Cambodia (2011-2025). Cambodia achieved a 71 per cent in malaria cases compared to 2019.
The call came on World Malaria Day, observed annually on April 25 to raise awareness about malaria and the impacts it has on the health of people around the globe.
Hun Sen issued a letter observing malaria day and voicing support for all of the activities that are being carried out to raise public awareness about malaria across the country, especially in at-risk places such as rural and mountainous areas.
“It is true that malaria not only affects personal health but also family finances due to the costs of treatment, loss of jobs and productivity and even the loss of lives. All of this adds up to a seriously negative socio-economic impact on the nation,” the letter read.
“We all need to continue to pay attention to the problem of malaria and not overlook it,” he said, adding that additionally, Cambodia is in its second phase of eliminating malaria according to its strategic plans.
Svay Rieng provincial health department director Ke Ratha told The Post that the number of malaria cases in his province has decreased significantly year to year due to public awareness and timely treatment.
"Before, there were many cases, but now they have declined a lot. Most of the malaria-affected areas are in Romeas Hek district as it has very thick forests.
"But now malaria is less prevalent due to prevention efforts. People are more aware about resting inside of mosquito nets,” he said.
National Malaria Control Program’s annual report indicates that Cambodia hasn’t had any deaths from malaria from 2018 to the present, which was one of the key goals of the government’s program.
The report said that in 2020 there were 9,227 malaria cases which was a 71 per cent decline compared to 2019 cases.
"Even though the war against malaria is achieving great results, we must increase the efficiency of our methods and eliminate the source of the disease. The Aedes aegypti mosquito continues to be present in our forests ready to suck people’s blood and spread malaria with every bite,” Hun Sen said.
