Romblon remains one of the provinces in the Philippines designated as malaria-free by the Department of Health (DOH).
“For the province of Romblon, we have it under control. There are no malaria cases in the province,” said Dr. Renato Menrige Jr., Provincial Health Officer I, during Kapihan sa PIA Romblon on November 7. Romblon achieved its malaria-free status in 2012.
In line with November’s designation as Malaria Awareness Month, as established under Proclamation No. 1168, s. 2006 of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Dr. Menrige emphasized the importance of continued public awareness.
Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite, which resides in red blood cells and is spread through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It can be fatal according to Menrige.
“Initial symptoms often resemble common illnesses, such as fever, body pain, and headache, making it difficult to identify without testing,” Menrige explained. Severe malaria cases may lead to complications like loss of consciousness, seizures, changes in behavior, difficulty breathing, frequent vomiting, jaundice, and pale skin.
Dr. Menrige warned that malaria cases could reappear if travelers entering Romblon from areas with malaria fail to take precautions. He advised travelers to consult local Rural Health Units before visiting malaria-prone areas, where they can obtain free preventive medicines.
He assured the public that hospitals, infirmaries, and health centers across Romblon are well-equipped with medicines and testing kits to diagnose and treat malaria efficiently.
