SOS Children's Village organizes a malaria awareness campaign in Glefe

By
Dennis Osei Gymafi / Stephen Appiah, RNG

Accra, April 25, GNA –
SOS Children's Village Ghana in collaboration with International SOS, and
Zoomlion organized a malaria awareness campaign in Glefe, a fishing center
community of Ablekuma district in Accra.

The program, on
theme; "Zero Malaria Begins with Me" was organized as part of activities aimed at
mark World Malaria Day, which falls on April 25, to raise awareness among indigenous people
on the prevention of malaria.

A cleaning exercise
was organized along some major streets of the community, with a free
health screening for residents.

Mrs. Rosemond Boamah,
Director of Programs of SOS Children's Village Ghana, said in an interview that,
the campaign was part of a five-year partnership with International SOS to mark
World Malaria Day in the country's vulnerable communities.

She said that Glefe was
chosen this year as approximately 250 students from the region were part of the
students funded under the five-year partnership.

Ms. Boamah said, their
The ultimate goal was to spread the importance of malaria prevention and to share
mosquito nets treated to families and residents of the community.

"With the
community we cleaned up Glefe's main street and hope that
our partnership with Zoomlion and the Municipal Assembly, this cleaning would be
be regular for us to educate people about the need to keep their environment
clean.

She said the country
reach the "zero malaria" case when people have changed their attitude towards
the environment, adding that the government needed to put in place strong measures
sure the environment was clean.

Dr. Vanessa Atikpui, of
West Rescue Association indicated that natives must strive to keep their
clean environment by cleaning all stagnant waters, which were breeding areas
for mosquitoes.

"Reach zero
malaria, we have to leave our homes burning garbage instead of
throw it anywhere in the community, "

Mrs. Joyce Abbey,
Director of Metropolitan Health Region said, malaria was the most registered
the disease in local health facilities and praised the education, that she said
gave them the opportunity to learn about prevention and the dangers of
disease.

She hoped that
the situation could improve after the campaign thanks to the education provided.

GNA