Many more people, especially children, are likely to suffer from malaria this year than previous years.

This is the picture painted in the very first three months of the year at the Tetteh Quashie Memorial Hospital, one of Ghana's few teaching hospitals.

Though last year's figure were reported to be higher than average for the last five years, this year's are simply staggering compared with last year.

Available figures show that total number of malaria cases reported last year was 5,325 for the first quarter of this year.

The breakdown are: children under five years 159, pregnant women 16 and deaths due to malaria 7 while the breakdown for the quarter are 269 for children, 32 for pregnant women and 10 deaths.

Speaking at a malaria awareness week at Adawso in the eastern region of Ghana under the theme "Let us fight malaria, the nation's number one enemy", the District Director of Health for Akuapem North District Assembly Dr. Sophia Winful, said the risk of contracting malaria and the severity of the disease depends on a person's resistance to the parasite.

Dr. Winful observed that the peak for malaria season is from May to July. The District Director of Health further noted that if breeding places such as drains, ponds, gutters and standing waters are dealt with, a reduction in patient attendance will be expected.

Mr. Mohamedu, a Deputy Co-ordinating Director, said beyond the disastrous effect of killing people, malaria also has a tendency of reducing the productivity of the nation because people with malaria often have to spend most of their productive time in bed.

The Deputy Co-ordinator cautioned people against spraying the environment with DDT since it will not achieve the expected results. - The Chronicle