A hygiene and information drive campaign against malaria is being conducted for the residents of indigenous communities in Sitio Culandanum, Barangay Sumbiling, Bataraza.
Community organizer Bobit Anihan said that they focused in Barangay Sumbiling as it ranks as one of the Top 5 with most cases of malaria in Bataraza.
Aside from malaria, there are also cases of dengue identified in the area.
“Tinumbok talaga namin ‘yong Sitio Culandanum, Brgy. Sumbiling kung saan ay liblib talaga at may kalayuan. Sabi nga ng mga tao, first time lang nangyari yon. Malaki ang impact sa mga katutubo, yong kulambo nila ay matagal na hindi nagagamit o sira na tapos nabigyan sila,” he said.
Mosquito nets were also distributed during the activity on August 20 with the presence of medical professionals from rural health office and Department of Health (DOH).
He said that the proper hygiene was stressed in health awareness drive particularly on hand washing.
The efforts in cleaning the backyard of every households were also highlighted to help the community decrease the cases recorded.
Anihan said that there are 27 positive cases recorded from the area. Aside from Sitio Culandanum, Sitio Tagkawayan also joined the activity.
“Isa rin talaga yong ‘di makapaglinis ng bakuran kasi nga nasa bundok sila parang yong kung saan lang tinatayuan ng bahay nila ay yon lang ang nalilinisan nila,” he said.
The activity was supported through the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) for the barangay Sumbiling from the Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) and the barangay council plans to follow a same activity to be conducted in 2020.
