The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment on Wednesday commemorated World Malaria Day with an event in Pursat province to give away nets to those most vulnerable to mosquito-borne disease, such as environmental rangers.
Srun Darith, spokesman for the Ministry of Environment, said mosquito nets were distributed to people living in malaria-prone areas.
“So far, there have not been any rangers infected by malaria,” he said in a message. “What the [Ministry of Health] is doing is a preventive measure and [the Ministry of Environment] is happy to work with [the Ministry of Health] to protect our rangers from malaria infection.”
Ly Sovann, spokesman for the Ministry of Health, didn’t respond to a request for comment. However, a post on the Ministry of Environment’s official Facebook page said a total of 31,500 mosquito nets were distributed this week, which included 3,000 nets for hammocks and 1,500 large nets for families.
Darith said the Pursat Department of Environment has received deliveries of some 200 mosquito nets.
The ministry’s Facebook post also says the rangers will help spread awareness to residents about malaria.
Huy Rekol, director of the National Center of Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control in February told The Post there had been a roughly 60 percent increase in the number of recorded malaria cases in 2017 compared to the year before, for an estimated 37,000 cases.
Rekol couldn't be reached for comment on Thursday.
