Children suffering from malaria must be made to eat otherwise they risk dying from malnutrition, Dr Atsu Seake-Kwawu, Ho Municipal Director of Health has said.

Because their immunity to the malaria parasites is further weakened by the onset of the disease, those children must eat to improve their energy levels, Dr Seake-Kwawu, said.

Children who are down with malaria tend to lose appetite for food and liquids but Dr Seake-Kwawu said it was in that state that they must be made to eat enough food and drink enough fluids adding that parents must give them their favourite foods.

Dr Seake-Kwawu was giving an overview of malaria at a malaria sensitisation workshop for the media in Ho organised by Hope for Future Generations (HFFG) as part of its Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) on malaria in 100 communities in 10 districts of the Volta Region including the Ho Municipal area.

The 2015 performance review of the Ho Municipal Health Directorate indicated a 20.1 percent drop in malaria cases among children below five years from 17118 in 2014 to 13661 in the 2015.