Tema (G/A), Sept. 20, GNA - The Management of Western Union Money Transfer, the global leader in consumer money transfer services, has presented 600 insecticide-treated nets to two health care institutions to augment government's effort in the fight against malaria. They are Tema General Hospital, which received 400 nets, and Pantang Psychiatric Hospital, which got 200 nets.

Mr Anthony Kemavor, Head of the Western Union at the Agricultural Development Bank, handed over the nets to authorities of the two hospitals on Monday at Tema.

He said the donation was in fulfilment of the company's pledge early this year to help malaria control by distributing 300,000 bed-nets worth 25,000 dollars to public hospitals nationwide. "The company is aware that malaria is the leading cause of child mortality in Africa, claiming lives every 30 seconds, and children are the most vulnerable to malaria and death during the first five years of life, while their immune systems are developing." He said their initiative was therefore aimed at making more children, less than five years, sleep under long lasting insecticide treated nets.

Mr Kemavor said Western Union, in collaboration with its local agents, would be distributing insecticide-treated nets to communities throughout the country during a six-week road show. Mrs Evelyn Takyie-Mensah, who is in-charge of Medical and Paediatric Ward of the Tema General Hospital, who received the nets, said malaria was responsible for about eight cent of child deaths worldwide and about 18 per cent in Africa. "Symptoms and complications of the disease affect children's immune system and increase their susceptibility to other diseases," she said. Mrs Takyie-Mensah thanked Western Union and its agents for the kind gesture.

=