Jema (B/A) March 25, GNA - A five-day public educational campaign against malaria has ended at Jema in the Kintampo South District, Brong-Ahafo Region for six endemic areas. The exercise, aimed at sensitizing the people living in remote areas in the district on dangers associated with malaria, was carried out by staff of the district Information Services Department (ISD) and jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS). Mr. Daniel Kanyage, the district's Deputy Coordinating Director, described the disease as "a major headache facing the government" and therefore appealed to health workers to exhibit a high sense of professionalism in the management of the disease, saying "eradication or reduction of malaria cases in the district would enhance the socio-economic development of the area." The communities identified by the District Health Directorate as malaria endemic areas: Dumso number One and Number Two, Attakrom, Agyina, Amangoase and Nkwanta.

Mr. Samuel Kuma, acting district Information Officer for Kintampo South, advised the men to encourage their pregnant wives to attend antenatal clinics and prevent them from using herbal concoctions, warning that, "that could lead to death". He urged those who had still not joined the district Mutual Health Insurance scheme to do so to access affordable health service. Mr. Addo K. Nyantakyi, District Disease Control Officer, said malaria constituted the highest attendance in the Out Patient Department (OPD) of the Jema District Hospital. He told the people that malaria cases topped causes of death recorded in the region last year and therefore advised the people to seek for early treatment. Mr. Gabriel Adda, acting district Director of Health Service, said as part of measures to control malaria, insecticide treated bed nets to pregnant women and children was still being sold at GH¢ 2.50. He said his outfit was also intensifying public education for people to resort to regenerated health and nutrition to reduce the incidence of the diseases. 25 March 09