Newmont observes Malaria Day

Sunyani April 26, GNA - Newmont Gold Ghana Limited (NGGL) has launched a 35,000-dollar mosquito net re-treatment campaign in surrounding communities of its operational areas in Tano North and Asutifi districts.

Mr. Stephen Baffoe, Communications Director, announced this on Wednesday at a durbar organized by the company at Gyedu in collaboration with the District Assembly and the district health directorate to commemorate the African Malaria Day. The durbar, which was held under the theme, "Free Africa from malaria now", was aimed at taking stock and reflecting on the enormity of its burden, social-economic impact and identified effective means of its prevention.

He said the campaign was to support efforts by the Ghana Health Directorate to increase the coverage of insecticide treated nets and the regional health directorate's medium term plan to fight against malaria. Mr. Baffoe added that about 20,000 mosquito nets would be turned into insecticide treated nets.

He stated that statistics on malaria cases were very challenging, noting that children, the nation's future leaders, were bearing the brunt of the disease, whilst women were vulnerable during pregnancy. The Communications Director noted with regret that all attention was on HIV/AIDS, neglecting malaria, which had become a threat to the health of millions around the world.

"The nation is faced with a serious challenge and this needs all hands on deck to achieve the goal of the struggle against malaria", Mr. Baffoe said.

Alhaj Dr. Mohammed Ibn Ibrahim, Brong Ahafo regional director of health services in a speech read for him said about 50 percent of all out-patient department (OPD) cases at the various health centres in the region last year were all malarial. He said prompt and effective treatment, the use of insecticide treated nets and environmental management were important strategies to control malaria.

The regional director urged members of the general public to live under hygienic environment to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and commended NGGL for contributing immensely to bring health care delivery to the door steps of the people. Mr. Opoku Peprah, Asutifi District Chief Executive, reiterated the call on the people to try as possibly to maintain environmental management by weeding around their houses. He said the Assembly as part of efforts in maintaining clean and healthy environment had engaged 25 sanitation workers through the Zoom-Lion company to tackle sanitation in the community. 27 April 07