Ahafo And North Launches Malaria Awareness Week

Mamfo (Ashanti Region) 8 Dec.,

About 200 school children at Dwaah and Mamfo on Wednesday joined health personnel to undertake a three-hour clean-up in the two towns to mark the launching of this year's malaria awareness week in the Ahafo and North District. They swept the markets, lorry parks, weeded their school compounds, picked litter and burned them. Launching the campaign, Mr.. E. Antwi-Bawuah, the presiding member of the district assembly said of the out-patient attendance at the hospital and clinics in the districts, 55 percent were malaria cases. He cautioned against the unsatisfactory manner drugs prescribed for patients are taken and advised patients to go strictly according to prescription. Mr.. Antwi-Bawuah appealed to the people to report all malaria cases to the hospital and clinics promptly. Mrs.. Mary V. Fosuah, principal nursing officer at the Tepa District Hospital said to reduce malaria mortality rate, mothers were being educated to detect symptoms early, and offer treatment in minor cases but seek treatment for severe cases. She said chloroquine remained the best first-line anti-malaria drug notwithstanding the proliferation of new and expensive drugs on the market. Miss Lydia Osei, the District Director of Education, appealed to communities to form village health committees to ensure environmental hygiene in the localities. Nana Kwame Ntim II, Omanhene of Mamfo traditional area who chaired the function, commended the ministry of health for instituting the malaria awareness week to educate the people on malaria prevention and appealed to the ministry to post a doctor to the health centre in the town.

Gri.