BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Malaria remains to be endemic or prevalent in 25 of the 76 municipalities in the Cordillera but a significant decrease in the number of malaria cases has been noted with the continuing effort of the Department of Health (DoH), in partnership with the different local government units and private (health) organizations, to eradicate the deadly disease.

Based on the record of the regional DoH Center for Health and Development (CAR), from the 4,095 cases in 2002, the number decreased by about 99 percent in 2010 with only 21cases recorded.

The 21 cases last year is about 85 percent lesser than compared to the 149 cases recorded in 2009.

According to DoH-CAR Malaria program coordinator Dr. Alexei Marrero, so far only Benguet and Baguio City are malaria-free. No reported case of malaria has been recorded in Abra for the past two years.

In 2010, Mountain Province reported 15 cases (11 from Paracelis and four from Natonin), while Apayao had three cases, Kalinga – two and one reported in Ifugao.

Marrero affirmed that through the major strategies being imple¬mented by the DoH, in partnership with the different concerned LGUs and with the assistance of Global Fund for Malaria Component (GFMC), through Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. the provinces continue to post decrease in malaria cases. (Dexter See)