Accra, April 21, GNA- Presumptive treatment of malaria is still
high in the country despite the clarion call on health professionals to
thoroughly diagnose patients to confirm their status before
treatment. Dr Constance Bart-Plange, Programmes Manager of the National
Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) who expressed the concern
said only 22.4 per cent of malaria cases were confirmed before
treatment. She therefore expressed worry that that the practice could
hamper the country's effort to reduce malaria deaths and cases by
70 per cent in line with the Global Malaria Action Plan. Ghana, now in the malaria control phase, has set to reach the
elimination stage by 2015 where the pandemic would no longer
remain a public health concern. Dr Bart- Plange was speaking with journalists in Accra at a
day's seminar organized by the NMCP to sharpen the skills of the
media in helping to fight malaria. The seminar also formed part of activities to mark the World
Malaria Day celebrations scheduled for Saturday, April 25, to draw
public attention on the need to fight malaria. The Programmes Manager said getting health professionals to do
the necessary diagnosis was crucial to support the Health Minister,
Mr George Yankey's pledge to eliminate malaria in the country
ahead of the set target. Dr Bart-Plange however reminded the public on the implications
of malaria infections on the national economy and advised them to
join in the fight against the disease. Dr Keziah Malm, Deputy Programmes Manager, NMCP, advised
the public to clear misconceptions that malaria could be transmitted
through breast feeding, walking under scorched sun, or sore in the
stomach. She hinted that malaria could affect the brain, lung and cause
spontaneous bleeding such as in the gum and entreated the public to
prevent it to save lives and the economy from retarding by an annual
growth rate of 1.3 per cent. Mrs Aba Baffoe Wilmot, Medical Entomologist of the NMCP
noted that malaria could be accidentally transmitted through blood
transfusion and asked the public to be cautious. She reminded the public that mosquitoes did not breed at refuse
dumps or in gutters and advised that the focus should be shifted to
clearing stagnant water instead of environmental sanitation. Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, Country Director of Voices for Malaria
Advocacy project encouraged media houses to adopt editorial
guidelines that would promote media advocacy to support the drive
to eliminate the pandemic. He urged researchers and health workers to also provide
information to the media to help fight the disease. This year's Malaria Day would be celebrated under the theme:
"Counting Malaria Out". 21 April 09
