AngloGold, Global Fund roll out malaria spraying programme
AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) and the Global Fund have rolled out Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) to cover 40 districts across the country as part of an integrated malaria control programme.
A statement copied to Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Monday, said the programme was aimed at eradicating malaria, improving health, creating employment opportunities and helping to steer economic development.
“Today, AngloGold Ashanti underlines its commitment to eradicating malaria in its host communities and beyond. We work closely with key partners, including the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Programme, hoping to contribute to meeting Ghana’s targets on the Millennium Development Goal 6”, it said.
The statement said an event in Bonsa hosted by the AGA Malaria Control Programme, in partnership with the Tarkwa-Nsuaeum Municipal Directorate of the GHS, spraying was officially launched in five districts across the Western Region, namely Ahanta West, Tarkwa Nsuem, Prestea-Huni Valley, Ellembelle and Axim in Tarkwa.
It said the programme sought to contribute immensely to the economic development of the Western Region in addition to improving and reducing the cost of healthcare provision.
According to the statement, AGA solely financed the Obuasi malaria programme, which reduced malaria cases in the municipality by 75 per cent, with over nine million dollars invested in four years.
“AGA’s contribution towards the control of malaria includes: information and education, to raise community awareness on how to recognise and prevent possible infections, and early effective diagnosis and treatment, once malaria has been contracted”, it said.
The statement said the Fund approved $130 million funding to enable AGA to expand the programme over a five-year period, after the Country Coordinating Mechanism selected the company as the recipient of the grant.
It said a projected 3,800 job opportunities would be created in targeted communities over the next five years to ensure the long-term sustainability and success of the programme beyond the Fund sponsorship period.
The statement said by the end of 2013, about two million people would benefit from the malaria control programme.
Source: GNA