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By
Lydia Kukua Asamoah, RNG
Somanya (E / R), April
26, GNA – The First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, called for a renewal and
vigorous engagement in the fight against malaria.
She said the
achieving zero malaria was achievable "when we all demonstrate commitment and
collaborate better. Zero Malaria starts with me, you and all of us. "
Currently, Ghana is
among the 10 African countries highly affected by malaria in the world.
world.
Despite this,
In Ghana, between 2011 and 2016, the prevalence of malaria had decreased in children under the age of
five with a national figure down 8%, and from 2014, malaria
deaths in the country decreased by 73%, according to available records.
However, speaking to
World Malaria Day 2019 in Somanya, Yilo-Krobo Municipality
The Assembly of the Eastern Region, Mrs. Akufo-Addo reiterated the devastating effects
effect of malaria on the health and wealth of nations and individuals.
She said despite the
Ghana achieved significant results in the fight against malaria, it was still
dying, while the disease continued to be the leading cause of ambulatory care
attendance at health facilities.
She was, however,
optimistic that malaria was a preventable disease "and we have evidence of
proven tools that can change our story.
The theme of the day
was "Zero Malaria Starts with Me".
The day is marked
each year around the world, providing a common platform for presenting
success of malaria control, while advocating a unified effort to address
challenges.
Ms. Akufo-Addo said
herself, she started the journey to zero malaria about 14 years ago,
through its Infanta Malaria Prevention Foundation.
She said that
The belief that Ghana could eradicate malaria is still "driving" it
which gave him the necessary fuel for the pbadion: to do everything in his power to defeat malaria.
"I know the same thing
conviction and pbadion inspire us all, "she said.
Ms. Akufo-Addo said
the commitment made by the President in July 2018, at the African Union Summit, the
commitment to advocate for innovation, to reduce the burden of malaria was given
necessary to create the necessary partnerships to end malaria in the world
country.
She said the country
had expanded existing interventions and was on track to pilot new malaria
vaccine in some parts of the country.
She was proud of that
Ghana has experienced a significant improvement after reaching the target of reducing
the mortality indicator promised by the president.
"Our health facility
the records show that a person dies every day in 2018 against eight in
2012.
"We know that these
Success is the result of investments made by all of us: donors, partners,
community, health workers and government ".
She said this year
theme, should therefore encourage everyone to do much more "to enable us to achieve our
global goal of zero malaria.
"It needs
engage all members of society, including; political leaders, the private
sector, leaders and members of the community.
She also called all
citizens to sleep under treated mosquito nets every night and throughout the
night, to protect themselves and their loved ones.
"Our pregnant women
should go to the antenatal clinic, as soon as they are pregnant, to receive
MS for intermittent preventive treatment throughout the pregnancy.
Mr. Kwaku Agyemang
Manu, Minister of Health, whose speech was read on his behalf, said since
Malaria continued to be a burden to the population, it was necessary to take
second look at the government's attention to primary health care and
responsibility in the fight against the disease.
He said that the government
pledged to help Ghana's health service mobilize the necessary resources
funding for the implementation of various proven malaria strategies.
Dr. Keziah Malm,
Head of National Malaria Control Program, Urged Health Personnel
first test all suspected cases of malaria to avoid unnecessary treatment with
antimalarial and missing diagnosis on other serious diseases.
«All suspected cases
must be tested and only positives are treated as non-adherents,
has consequences in terms of dyeing, "warned Dr. Malm.
Dr. Owen Kaluwa,
National Representative of the World Health Organization, said the theme of the
Day highlights the need to empower people around the world, to make a difference
personal commitment to saving more lives and helping communities and economies to
prosper by eliminating malaria.
He said that the WHO, was
calling for renewed political commitment to eliminate malaria and
to increase investments to mobilize all the necessary internal and external resources.
resources to combat it and ensure intersectional and cross-border collaboration
Ms. Janean Davis, USAID
Ghana Health Team Leader, on behalf of the President of the United States Malaria Initiative
(PMI), paid tribute to Ghana for the encouraging results achieved during the 10
years.
"However, as we
celebrate this life-saving impact, we need to step up our efforts to fight the
the disease to make sure we achieve the noble and ambitious goal of zero malaria
dead, "she added.
GNA
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