The 1st World Malaria Day will be celebrated on April 25, 2008, a day of unified commemoration of the global effort to provide effective control of malaria around the world. The theme for World Malaria Day is “Malaria – a disease without borders”. This theme emphasizes the need for global collaboration in the fight against malaria, including the need for cross-border strategies, well documented good practice and coordinated action at all levels – international, regional, national and local. April 25 is a day of determination and optimism as the global community now has enough evidence that the fight against malaria can be won if partners come together and harmonize the efforts for an efficient collaboration of malaria control strategies to fight this dreaded disease.

The Philippines, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 1168, holds its own national celebration of Malaria Awareness Month during the month of November. Still, as a partner of Roll Back Malaria (RBM) – World Health Organization (WHO), we are enjoined to commemorate the World Malaria Day together with other RBM – WHO partners around the world.

The Department of Health and our partners from private, public, academe, faith-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, people’s organizations and media will celebrate this event with the theme “Magkaisa sa Pagkilos 4 Malaria”.

• Magkulambo kapag natutulog tuwing gabi (Sleep under the mosquito net every night. Disrupting malaria transmission is more effective if the mosquito net is treted with insecticide)
• Magsuot ng damit na may mahabang manggas at magpantalon tuwing gabi.(Wearing long sleeves and long pants and other personal protection measures – applying insect repellent, lighting mosquito coil – can be undertaken during night time activities)
• Magpatingin o kumunsulta sa health worker kung may sintomas ng malaria (People who reside in a malarious area or people living in a non-malaria endemic area and traveled to a malarious area and has developed signs/symptoms of malaria are advised to consult the health worker)
• Magpasuri ng dugo para sa tamang gamutan (For suspected malaria cases, blood examination for malaria parasites through blood smear or Rapid Diagnostic Test – in case there is no available microscopy center in the community – is important to identify the malaria parasite species for appropriate treatment. Follow the advise of the health workers by completing the prescribed number of anti-malarial tablets to be taken)

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