Nearly 5 million Ghanaians to be malaria-free

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has began a campaign to distribute 2.35 million bed nets that will protect almost five million Ghanaians against malaria.

The exercise is being supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UK Government.

“The long lasting insecticide treated bed nets are currently being distributed across Western region and will be handed out in Central region later this month, and should protect almost 5 million Ghanaians against malaria, including nearly 1 million children under the age of 5,” the UK Department for International Development (DFID) in Accra said in statement November 14, 2011 which was copied to ghanabusinessnews.com.

According to the statement, volunteers throughout the regions will work closely with the regional and district health authorities, taking part in the ‘hang up’ campaign, showing people how to put up the nets, and use them effectively.

With at least three million reported malaria cases each year in public health facilities, the statement says the DFID, UNICEF and the GHS are partnering to ensure Ghana’s target of reducing the burden of malaria by 75% by 2015 is achieved.

By Ekow Quandzie