Ghana will join the rest of the world to celebrate World Malaria Day today, April 25, 2013. The global campaign theme for this year and the coming years is: “Invest in the future. Defeat Malaria”.
The day will be used to showcase the achievements chalked up in malaria prevention and intervention under the Ghana Health Service (GHS) led National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), in partnership with the Global Fund, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the UK Department for International Development and others.
A new campaign which focuses on the regular use of insecticide-treated nets (LLIN) and their continuous distribution through schools and health facilities will be introduced.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria still kills an estimated 660,000 people worldwide, mainly children under five years in sub-Saharan Africa. Every year, more than 200 million cases occur, most of them never tested or registered.
A recent plateauing of international funding has slowed down progress, and emerging drug and insecticide resistance threatens to reverse recent gains.
To mark the occasion, the NMCP, in collaboration with some partners, is organizing a programme which includes an exhibition and theatre performances at the Adentan Community School Complex Park in Accra. Mrs. Lordina Mahama, the First Lady, will deliver the keynote address.
The World Malaria Day was instituted by WHO member states in 2007. It is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control.
It is also an opportunity for new donors to join the global malaria partnership and for research and academic institutions to showcase their scientific work.
By: Joshua Asaah | A1Radioonline.com | Ghana
