Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by plasmodium parasites transmitted by anopheles mosquito or rarely through blood transfusion and sharing of contaminated needles causing acute febrile illness and symptoms in the form of fever, headache and chills. Untreated, P. falciparum malaria may progress to severe illness and possibly, death.

The Philippines carry a high burden of malaria disease in the past but with the unrelenting efforts of the DOH- National Malaria Control and Elimination Program, cases and deaths has been reduced significantly, that the country is now inching towards elimination. DOH-NMCEP aims to eliminate malaria by adopting a health system focused approach to achieve universal coverage with quality-assured malaria diagnosis and treatment, strengthen governance and human resources, maintain the financial support needed, and ensure timely and accurate information management.

The sub-national elimination strategy of the DOH–NMCEP has resulted to the declaration of 42 out of the 81 provinces in the country as malaria-free. Currently, only 7 provinces remain with local transmission of the disease. One of these provinces is Palawan, which holds more than 90% of the country’s malaria cases. Despite these, the program remains optimistic of meeting its goals by instituting effective measures of reducing transmission; working closely with regional offices, local government units, line agencies, key affected population’s (KAP) representatives and also maintaining collaboration with partners like the Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The Philippines aims to eliminate malaria by 2030.