BY JERRY SEFE
Report has shown that malaria is on the rife within settlements in Lae Morobe Province.
A retired school teacher and community leader Mathias Pomareo revealed this today.
Mr Pomareo said unhealthy environment in settlements are becoming breeding sites for mosquitoes which is a currently a major concern.
He said Kamkumung suburb is one of the area recorded high number of people with malaria.
He said most of them are children between the ages of 5-8 years old.
“So far five children between these age groups have died,” he said.
According to report gathered from Kamkumung Health Clinic, the highest number of victims diagnosed with malaria are from the settlement areas.
Statistics from the laboratory tests from Angau Memorial Hospital also shows that 9741 patients were tested positive with malaria in 2016.
While the highest data collected last year from the month of February alone recorded 1412 patients who were admitted for malaria and treated at Angau.
Mr Pomareo said the weather and climate of Lae is conducive to the malaria breeding parasites, followed by unhealthy lifestyle and irresponsibility of rubbish scared around residential environment.
“People are aware of the risks and consequences of malaria however many choose to ignore despite numerous awareness against malaria” said Pomareo.
“Malaria also causes loss of movement in joints which leads to paralysis, mental problems, typhoid and other associated diseases which can harm the human body.
“It will only be prevented and curtailed once we change our mindsets and attitudes towards looking after our surrounding environments” Pomareo said.
Meanwhile the hospitals are now advising people to seek medical assistance if they are experiencing symptoms of malaria such as high fever, loss of appetite, and tiredness for early treatment.
The reports for this year will be released once all health centres in the province submit their results to Angau hospital for data recording.