B’ville records centres with highest number of malaria cases

THE Hantoa Health Centre has recorded the third highest number of malaria cases since June 2023 to this year.
According to home-based malaria management officer Rachel Puton, these high incidences of malaria are recorded in sequence from highest to the lowest.
Kekesu Health Centre recorded 3,326; Tearouki Health Centre 3,126; Hantoa Health Centre 2,638; Koromira sub-health centre and Gagan Health Centre with the lowest.
Puton, working under Rotarians Against Malaria, is spearheading awareness on home-based malaria management in remote communities that are unable to reach local health centres.
Puton says this programme will target rural communities in need to quickly diagnose and treat malaria patients.
Rodney Sapaun, executive director (North Bougainville), of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Health Department, says they are working with the Health Department and Rotarians Against Malaria.
Sapaun said the community-based approach came about because the strategy of distributing mosquito nets to reduce malaria cases had not fully worked.
The Health Department and Rotarians Against Malaria want PNG to be malaria-free by 2030.
“All malaria test kit and anti-malarial medicines will be removed from hospitals and distributed to all health volunteers in each communities,” added Sapaun. This two-weeks community advocacy will involve ward members and community leaders to identify former health workers to assist with providing malaria care in communities.
Two volunteers, a man and woman, will be selected and trained on how to get and check blood, and treat malaria.