Accra, Oct. 28, GNA - The Greater Accra Regional branch of Ghana Coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGO) on Malaria, has began a workshop to educate members on effective proposal writing to enable them secure sponsorships towards efforts to fight the disease. The two-day workshop would also build the capacity of members and educate them on symptoms of malaria and effective elimination of the disease in the country.

After the workshop, members are expected to source funds from sponsors of malaria campaign programmes and move to the communities to intensify action against the spread of the disease. Briefing the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday, Dr Keziah Maln, Deputy Programme Manager of the National Malaria Control Programme said proposals submitted by the NGOs for sponsorship had not been effective. He explained that some of the proposals submitted did not provide specific clarity on the duration of the programmes and how to achieve set targets, making sponsors unwilling to assist.

Dr Maln said despite this handicap, the NGOs had been working effectively to eliminate the disease and reported cases of malaria at public health institutions had reduced significantly. She called for collective efforts to fight the disease because its elimination was a collective responsibility. Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, Africa Deputy Director of Voices Malaria Project told the participants to be efficient and effective in their operations and not only be receivers of aids because they would continue to remain key stakeholders in the fight against malaria. He called on NGOs to unite and submit joint proposals that would convince sponsors to assist them.

Mr Fiagbey said over the years, experienced had shown that some NGOs presented good proposals but performed poorly while those who presented weak proposals performed better. 28 Oct. 09