Vietnam’s Hanoi Strives for Zero Malaria-related Deaths
The healthcare sector in Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi has targeted to achieve the goal of zero secondary malaria cases and no deaths caused by malaria within the community, while reinforcing and enhancing the quality of the malaria prevention and control system, local media reported.
The Hanoi Department of Health has outlined some specific targets as follows: 100% of individuals returning from malaria-endemic areas are managed, monitored, and have blood samples tested to detect malaria parasites; 100% of imported malaria cases are detected, reported, investigated, managed, monitored, and promptly treated according to the Ministry of Health guidelines.
Moreover, Hanoi will develop maps and identify areas with endemic parasitic diseases in 2024; annually reduce the rate of soil-transmitted helminth and small liver fluke infections by 10% in endemic areas; other common parasitic diseases are promptly detected and treated.
Additionally, 100% of diagnosed individuals receive treatment for parasitic infections; deworming is conducted from one to two times a year for priority groups in endemic areas with infection rates over 20%; small liver fluke treatment is administered once a year for at-risk populations in endemic areas with infection rates over 20%; all endemic areas for parasitic diseases implement preventive measures against parasitic diseases.
According to the Hanoi Department of Health, over 50% of residents in endemic areas have had access to information about parasitic disease prevention; 100% of commune and ward health stations in endemic areas conducted activities to prevent soil-transmitted helminth infections, foodborne helminth infections, and report on implementation results; 100% of healthcare facilities at all levels have trained staff in surveillance and prevention of malaria and common parasitic diseases, conducting prevention activities and reporting effectively.