Bengkulu (Antara Bali) - Indonesia observed World Malaria Day in
Seluma District, Bengkulu Province, on Monday in the presence of Health
Minister Nila Moeloek.
The minister said one way of
controlling the spread of malaria was to conserve the mangrove
ecosystem, which was "home" to the anopheles mosquitoes that carry the
malaria virus.
"If the habitats (mangrove ecosystems) of
anopheles mosquito are destroyed, the mosquitoes carrying the malaria
virus will move to residential areas," Minister Moeloek remarked here on
Monday.
Therefore, the health minister emphasized the
need to preserve the environment, including the mangrove ecosystems
along the coastal areas, to control the spread of malaria.
She added that controlling malaria was highly correlated to environmental hygiene and maintaining a healthy body.
"Such a small anopheles mosquito can cause death, and therefore, we
should maintain cleanliness and our health," she affirmed.
The minister also reminded the residents to use mosquito nets while
sleeping as the anopheles mosquitoes bite at night.
Therefore, she said the distribution of mosquito nets among the people
was one of the steps taken under the Health Ministry's program to
control malaria.
Various activities ranging from mass
blood testing and the distribution of anti-malarial drugs to the
distribution and installation of mosquito nets among the residents were
held as part of the main event of the World Malaria Day in Seluma
District. (WDY)
Indonesia Observes World Malaria Day In Bengkulu
Senin, 25 April 2016 14:32 WIB