KILUSAN LIGTAS MALARIA: Advancing Social Mobilization towards Sustainable Malaria Control in the Province of Palawan, the Philippines

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As malaria continues to be a public health problem in the Philippines, its control is now the responsibility of the Local Government Unit (LGU). In this set-up, social mobilization is believed to be the key strategy in effective and sustainable implementation of malaria prevention and control activities. Palawan has always been the most malarious province in the country. Despite untiring malaria control efforts and huge funds spent to curb this malady for which Palawan has become known, this province remains the largest contributor of malaria cases and deaths. Thus, Kilusan Ligtas Malaria (KLM: meaning Movement Against Malaria) has focused on social mobilization in the implementation of malaria prevention and control. Microscopic confirmation of malaria is done by trained village microscopists, while health education-promotion activities, advocacy and linkage building are carried out by trained village community organizers. The noticeable outcomes are the increase in malaria case finding as reflected in the total number of malaria smears done, the increase in microscopic confirmation of malaria, and the decline in clinical diagnoses. Other outcomes include policy development and implementation in the form of executive orders and community ordinances to support the village microscopists and community organizers. Now, the biggest challenge of KLM is maintaining the momentum and sustaining gains.