Accra, April 21, GNA- Presumptive treatment of malaria is still

high in the country despite the clarion call on health professionals to

thoroughly diagnose patients to confirm their status before

treatment. Dr Constance Bart-Plange, Programmes Manager of the National

Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) who expressed the concern

said only 22.4 per cent of malaria cases were confirmed before

treatment. She therefore expressed worry that that the practice could

hamper the country's effort to reduce malaria deaths and cases by

70 per cent in line with the Global Malaria Action Plan. Ghana, now in the malaria control phase, has set to reach the

elimination stage by 2015 where the pandemic would no longer

remain a public health concern. Dr Bart- Plange was speaking with journalists in Accra at a

day's seminar organized by the NMCP to sharpen the skills of the

media in helping to fight malaria. The seminar also formed part of activities to mark the World

Malaria Day celebrations scheduled for Saturday, April 25, to draw

public attention on the need to fight malaria. The Programmes Manager said getting health professionals to do

the necessary diagnosis was crucial to support the Health Minister,

Mr George Yankey's pledge to eliminate malaria in the country

ahead of the set target. Dr Bart-Plange however reminded the public on the implications

of malaria infections on the national economy and advised them to

join in the fight against the disease. Dr Keziah Malm, Deputy Programmes Manager, NMCP, advised

the public to clear misconceptions that malaria could be transmitted

through breast feeding, walking under scorched sun, or sore in the

stomach. She hinted that malaria could affect the brain, lung and cause

spontaneous bleeding such as in the gum and entreated the public to

prevent it to save lives and the economy from retarding by an annual

growth rate of 1.3 per cent. Mrs Aba Baffoe Wilmot, Medical Entomologist of the NMCP

noted that malaria could be accidentally transmitted through blood

transfusion and asked the public to be cautious. She reminded the public that mosquitoes did not breed at refuse

dumps or in gutters and advised that the focus should be shifted to

clearing stagnant water instead of environmental sanitation. Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, Country Director of Voices for Malaria

Advocacy project encouraged media houses to adopt editorial

guidelines that would promote media advocacy to support the drive

to eliminate the pandemic. He urged researchers and health workers to also provide

information to the media to help fight the disease. This year's Malaria Day would be celebrated under the theme:

"Counting Malaria Out". 21 April 09