The campaign to roll back malaria in the Ashanti Region has received a huge boost with the decision by one of the leading savings and loans companies to freely distribute insecticide treated nets to the poor and the underprivileged.

Mr. Mohammed Khalilur Raman, Regional Manager of ASA Savings and Loans Limited, said it was not only interested in growing businesses but also eager to see the people healthy.

This, he said, was because it was only when the people were in good health that they could become productive.

He was speaking at a ceremony held to present the first consignment of the treated nets to some identified socially-disadvantaged individuals from Krofrom, Dichemso and Aboabo – all in Kumasi.

Malaria continues to top cases seen at the Out-Patients Department (OPD) of the hospitals. It remains a public health concern - a major cause of mortality and morbidity, especially among children under the age of five and pregnant women.

ASA had in the past organized free health screening of the people and Mr. Raman pledged that it would, as a responsible corporate citizen, always be associated with efforts at promoting healthcare.

Mr. Seth Morgan Arhin, the Asante-Mampong Area Manager, encouraged the people to go for regular check-up.