Malaria is leading killer disease - Official

Kade (E/R), Sept. 5, GNA - Malaria remains the top killer disease in the country, killing an average of five people every minute, the Kwaebibrem District Public Health Nurse, Mrs Charlotte Amponsah, has said.

According to her, on the average, 3.5 million cases were recorded every year, with average daily reported cases of 7,500.

Speaking at a public health education forum at Kade, Mrs Amponsah said 40 deaths due to malaria were recorded in Ghana annually, translating to 105 deaths everyday or four deaths every hour in Ghana. Mrs Amponsah said children under five and pregnant women were most vulnerable to malaria attack and that in Ghana, 45 children less than five years die from malaria everyday with two dying every hour. The Public Health Nurse said in the Kwaebibirem District, between January and July, this year, there were 33,404 reported malaria cases which claimed ten children under five and five adults.

On the prevention and control of malaria, she said, it could be effective if bushes in communities were cleared and empty containers such as coconut shells and empty cans were rid off while the use of impregnated bed nets, especially by children and pregnant women should be adopted.