Every year, on the 25th of April, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls international attention on the need for nations to press on in the global fight against malaria.  In Africa, malaria contributes significantly to the poor health situation that goes on to affect productivity and development: About 800 thousand children under the age of five are killed by the disease every year; and it is estimated that a single bout of malaria coasts a sum equivalent to over 10 working days in Africa. 

Records indicate that 90 percent of the World’s 300 to 500 million malaria cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa. 

According to the latest national human development report released by the UNDP, in Ghana Malaria is the first and most important cause of morbidity accounting for 40 to 60 percent of all outpatient visits to public health facilities.  The disease constituted 42 percent of all out-patient morbidity and its prevalence increased consistently from forty two point nine percent in 2000 to 44 point one percent in 2004.  Moreover, the disease costs a national economic burden equivalent to three percent of GDP annually.  Since Independence, successive governments have made significant efforts to deal with the malaria menace. 

These include the creation of a national Malaria Service, the launch of a 5 year National Malaria Control action Plan with focus on capacity building for improved disease management in health facilities and the WHO Roll Back Malaria (RBM) initiative. 

Currently, under the national Growth and Poverty Reduction strategy (GPRS 2), there are comprehensive plans to improve malaria case management, enhance multiple prevention techniques, strengthen multi-dimensional partnerships and promote the knowledge base of interventions through focused research and well disseminated and utilized findings. 

As we mark this year’s world day against malaria, it is incumbent on us not only to renew our efforts in combating the diseases but more importantly vindicate the numerous past and present malaria programmes by utilizing allocated funds expediently and judiciously to deal with the menace.  Also, we must change our attitude towards environmental sanitation.  Every household should get rid of water receptacles that serve as mosquito niches. 

Communities should mobilize themselves under their assemblymen, unit committee members and other local leaders to clear stagnant drains to enhance mosquito-free neighborhoods.  Local government authorities should provide more effective public sanitation services such as free flowing drainage systems and the Ministry of health should engender the national leadership drive, motivation and innovation required to break this unpleasant national jinx of ubiquitous malaria that seems to defy efforts of successive governments. 

As a nation we stand to save million of dollars to invest in other areas of social development if only we work towards achieving better results in the fight against malaria.

On this occasion it is important to congratulate all our health professionals who have labored vigorously to control and manage the malaria scare.  We say ayekoo to all those committed to the use of treated mosquito nets and all families, households and communities who maintain a clean environment. 

Come next year when we mark another World day against Malaria, we hope to record a significant reduction in malaria-caused morbidity amongst our children and general populace.  Ghana, let’s say no to malaria.

Writer: E. Kwame Mensah, a development worker