Joint efforts help curb malaria

Joint efforts help curb malaria

KULONPROGO, Yogyakara: Joint efforts involving the regencies
of Kulonprogo in Yogyakarta and neighboring Purworejo in Central
Java have significantly reduced the number of malaria cases in
the Menoreh highlands, which separate the two regencies,
officials said.

Purworejo Health Office director Muhammad Sururi said over the
weekend the number of malaria cases in his jurisdiction had
dropped significantly to 14,860 cases in 2002 from
22,862 in 2001.

Speaking at the launch of a public awareness campaign on the
dangers of malaria in the Kulonprogo village of Jatimulyo, Sururi
said he had recorded less than 100 cases of malaria as of
February this year.

Some 25 villages in the four Purworejo subdistricts of
Bagelen, Kaligesing, Lowanu and Bener in the Menoreh highlands
are considered as malaria-prone regions. They border on the
Kulonprogo subdistricts of Girimulyo, Kalibawang, Samigaluh and
Kokap, which are also considered vulnerable to the disease.

Kulonprogo Health Office director Sugiarto also revealed a
sharp decline in the number of malaria cases in his jurisdiction
to 27,000 in 2002 from 37,000 in 2001.

Both Sururi and Sugiarto attributed the decline in the
incidence of malaria to coordination and cooperation involving
all elements in the community as part of a comprehensive and
integrated movement to deal with malaria. -- JP