Malaria deaths reduced

The National Malaria Control Programme has announced a reduction in malaria cases in the country largely due to the patronage of treated mosquito nets.

According to Programme Manager of the Malaria Control Programme Dr. Keziah Malm, malaria-related deaths has reduced from over 1000 to 599 in 2017 nationwide as compared to the previous year.

She said the programme will intensify the net distribution campaign to further reduce malaria-related deaths.

Speaking to journalists in Kumasi, Dr Malm said: “In 2017 we recorded just about 599 deaths as compared to the previous year where we had over 1000 deaths in a year.

“We’ve seen improvement and we’ve seen improvement in the cases that we are testing at our health facilities. We’re seeing a slight reduction in the cases that we are admitting as malaria in our health facilities.”

“My advise to people in the country is that malaria can kill, but malaria is preventable, and malaria is treatable. One of the ways we can prevent malaria is by sleeping in an insecticide treated net and this would protect us from the bite of the mosquito which spreads malaria,” she added.