Ghana can become a malaria-free country – First Lady

Ghana’s First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo has charged stakeholders to prioritize and ensure judicious use of available resources in the fight towards zero incidences of malaria in Ghana.

According to her, “malaria is a preventable disease and we have evidence of proven tools that can change our story. What is needed is renewed and vigorous commitment to the fight against it”

The First Lady made this known at the launch of the 2019 World Malaria Day in Somanya – Akutunya Lorry station in the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly under the theme ‘Zero malaria starts with me.”

“In July 2018, at the African Union Summit, President Akufo-Addo pledged his commitment to champion innovation, to reduce the malaria burden. Since that pledge, I am aware the Ministry of Health together with our partners, have intensified efforts in the fight against malaria. The country has scaled up existing interventions and is on track to pilot the malaria vaccine,” she said.

She stressed that “it is of great pride to me to have met the target for reduction of the mortality indicator as promised by the President.”

Despite these significant results, she disclosed that “people still die from malaria and the disease continues to be the number one cause of out-patient attendance in our health facilities” and expressed worry Ghana is listed among the 10 African countries with a high burden of malaria in the world.

Looking forward, the First Lady was confident that, “it is possible to achieve zero malaria. Globally, more countries, are moving towards zero indigenous cases. In 2017, more countries reported fewer than 10 000 cases, as compared to 2016 and 2010. The number of countries with less than 100 indigenous cases, which is a strong indicator that elimination is within reach, increased from 15 countries in 2010 to 24 countries in 2016 and 26 countries in 2017.”

“We can also do it, if we all work together and follow guidelines established by the WHO and our national strategy,” she emphasised.

Describing the theme, ‘’Zero Malaria starts with me’’ as a call to action, he said it requires all of us to take advantage of the existing interventions for control of malaria in the country.

The First Lady, in collaboration with the Infanta Malaria Prevention Foundation has for 14 years fought to reduce and eradicate the incidence of malaria, especially in children and mothers in Ghana.