Ghana celebrates Malaria Day

The Deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Samuel Owusu Adjie, on Wednesday stated that a new Residual Mosquito is being implemented in Obuasi Municipality under the auspices of the Anglo Gold Malaria Control Program.

Speaking at the commemoration of Africa Malaria day celebration organized by the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service on the theme, “Free Africa from Malaria Now, Roll Back Malaria” the Deputy Minister explained that Malaria has been responsible for 40% sickness reported in the country and a cause to one out of every four death registered in Hospitals.

He said Malaria is globally acknowledged as a “Disease of Poverty” which imposes an unacceptability high Socio Economic Burden on endemic Countries World Wide particularly in Sub-Sahara Africa including Ghana.

He said in the era when Chloroquine was used for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria it was estimated that its cost 21, 965 of our per capital income which is translated to 112, 832 representing 70% of Capital Government expenditure on health.

He said the Anti Malaria Drug Policy amendment discontinued the use of Chloroquin and adopted Artemisinin Base Combination Therapy that is, the Artesunate Amodaiquin combination. Based on evidence that Chloroquin is no longer effective against Malaria parasites.

The Deputy Minister revealed that two million people were treated with the Artesunate Amodiaquine combination since its introduction and as at the end of December 2006 a total of 2,900,000 doses were procured from the global fund for distribution to the public health facilities with almost 8000 Health Care Professionals from both Public and Private Sectors trained on the new Drug.

Ursula Tagoe
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