General News of Monday, 16 August 2004

Source: GNA

Malaria cases to be reduced by 50 per cent

Nadowli (U/W), Aug 16, GNA- The Ghana Health Service (GHS) in collaboration with other donors have embarked on a comprehensive educational programme on malaria to reduce the disease to the minimum. Madam Florence Angsomwine, Public Health Nurse in-charge of the Nadowli District roll-back malaria programme, announced this at the launch of the programme at Nadowli on Sunday.

She said the service had acquired bicycles for volunteers who would go into the rural areas to educate them on the need to use impregnated mosquito nets and to keep their environment clean.

Madam Angsomwine said focus would be on pregnant mothers and children under, five years since they were the vulnerable in society. She said about 105 deaths result from malaria everyday while four deaths are recorded every hour.

"Because of this we have strategise to assess the effectiveness of mosquito nets and would continue to monitor their performance", she said.

She said clubs would be formed to carry out the campaign in schools and market centres to sensitise more people to adopt the new system.