Ghana can make giant strides in its fight against malaria if sectors of the economy such as finance, education, mining and tourism give it the required support, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has submitted.
“We have made progress as a country in the control of malaria, but there is still more to be done. Defeating malaria requires the engagement of a number of sectors outside of health, including finance, defense, education industry and tourism,” said Dr Constance Bart Plange, Manager, Malaria control Programme of the GHS.
Dr Bart-Plange observes the country is at a critical tipping point in the fight against malaria, thus there is the need to mobilise internal resources to invest in malaria control so that the country does not lose the gains it has made in the last couple of years.
She indicates that the malaria control programme has chalked a lot of successes, including improved malaria diagnosing and testing, leading to rational use of antimalarials. Other achievements are improved malaria treatment and the consistent reduction in deaths.
Dr Bart-Plange was speaking at a forum in Accra organised by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) as part of preparation to commemorate this year’s World Malaria Day which will fall on Monday, April 25.
She informs the forum, “Whereas death is increasing over the period, deaths due to malaria are decreasing. Forty-five per cent reduction in malarial deaths from year 2010 to year 2015, due to improved case management.”
She says though there are challenges that hinder the progress, all hands must be on deck to fight it head on, adding, “it is possible, others have done, Ghana can do it too.”
The goal of the malaria control as spelt out in national strategic plan 2014 – 2020 is to reduce disease and death due to malaria by 75 percent by 2020.
This year’s World Malaria Day will be commemorated on the theme, ‘End Malaria for Good; Invest in the Future.’ It is commemorated on the 25th April each year. It is a day for a unified commemoration of global efforts to combat one of the world’s most dreaded diseases because of its impact on the economic development and health of countries especially those in the Africa south of the Sahara.
Dr Badu Sarkodie, Director of Public Health at the GHS, says this year’s theme suggests a great confidence in the fight against the scourge and calls for stakeholder efforts to accelerate the effort of the country in malaria.
Dr Sarkodies observes that the celebration, “is an opportunity for us as Ghanaians to learn more about the devastating consequences of the disease, know progress made as the years go by as well learn other experiences to back each other’s efforts.”
He adds, “I would like to inform you that Ghana has chalked a lot of success. Now death due to malaria among pregnant women and children has reduced drastically as a result of adoption of a multi- prolonged strategy which includes active public education and creation of awareness on public health issues.”
He urges all to commit to do more by intensifying education with the right information in order not to lose the gains made.
Source:Mohammed Suleman / Public Agenda
