Stanchart pledges support for malaria control

Accra, March 4, GNA - Mr Alex Mould, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Standard Chartered Bank on Tuesday expressed the bank's commitment to support efforts aimed at controlling incidence of Malaria in the country.

Speaking at a Reception on Malaria Partnership in Accra, he said the disease should be a major concern to all, since it accounted for the death of a child in Africa in every 30 seconds and deprived the continent of about 12 billion dollars of the Gross Domestic Product every year.

He said to reverse the trend, the bank through its Nets For Life Project, a voluntary organization launched in Ghana last year, was working with relevant stakeholders to adopt a common strategy to mitigate the risk of the infection.

Mr Mould said as a legacy to the Ghana @ 50 celebrations, the bank had procured 49,500 insecticide treated nets for distribution to the Northern, Upper West and Upper East regions and had established 18 malaria health clubs in schools to educate students on malaria, HIV/AIDS and other health matters.

He commended the bank's staff, especially those in Tamale for offering their employee volunteering days to assist in the distribution of the nets and other educational programme.

Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd), Minister of Health hinted that the country was considering the use of an insecticide sterilisation mechanism through the support of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission to help control mosquito breeding.

He said the Ministry had been informed of the development of a malaria vaccine that could kill the parasite and was into talks to find out the truth.

He said the Ministry was putting in place, measures to deal with the threat holistically and called for more corporate support to achieve the desired impact.

Dr Gladys Ashitey, Deputy Minister of Health, said in 2006, over 30 million reported cases were recorded in adults whiles children accounted for over seven million cases.

She said an upward trend had been witnessed since 2000 and the number of out-patient cases had risen by a million, costing the Ministry twice its budget every year.

The Deputy Minister gave the assurance that the Roll Back Malaria Programme and the recent 17 million dollars support from US President George Bush, including other interventions being implemented would assist in malaria prevention.

Dr Ashitey commended the bank, Nets For Life and other partners for their support and pledged government's support in future projects.