BY JERRY SEFE
jsefe@spp.com.pg
A COMMUNITY leader in Lae is calling on the Lae City Council health authorities to inspect residential areas in the settlements and suburbs following reports of a malaria outbreak.
Mathias Pomareo, a retired high school teacher, said yesterday that unhealthy environment in settlements are becoming breeding sites for mosquitoes, which is a major concern.
Mr Pomareo said many people residing in the Kamkumung area have malaria and children are the most affected.
He said so far five children between 5-8 years old have died of malaria, citing to his community reports and many are still ill at the moment.
The Post-Courier followed up on the reports with Kamkumung Health Centre and received confirmation that the highest number of patients with malaria is coming from settlements within the city.
Statistics from the laboratory tests from Angau Memorial Hospital showed that 9741 patients were tested positive with malaria in 2016.
The highest data collected last year in February alone recorded 1412 patients admitted for malaria and treated at Angau.
Mr Pomareo said the weather and climate of Lae is conducive to the malaria breeding mosquitoes, followed by unhealthy lifestyle and irresponsible dumping of rubbish around residential environment.
“People are aware of the risks and consequences of malaria however many choose to ignore despite numerous awareness against malaria.
“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,” Mr Pomareo said.
The hospitals are urging 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.
The Lae city health sector is yet to receive malaria reports from the urban clinics.