SOS Children’s Village Ghana in collaboration with the International SOS, and Zoomlion have organized a Malaria Awareness Campaign in Glefe, a fishing community in the Ablekuma District in Accra.

The programme, on the theme; “Zero Malaria Start with Me.” was organized as part of activities to mark the World Malaria Day, which falls on April 25, to sensitize the indigenes on malaria prevention.

A clean-up exercise was organized along some major streets of the community, together with a free health screening for the locals.

Mrs Rosemond Boamah, Programmes Director at SOS Children’s Village Ghana, said in an interview that, the campaign was part of a five-year partnership with International SOS to mark World Malaria Day in vulnerable communities in the country.

She said Glefe was chosen this year because about 250 students from the area, were part of the students funded under the five-year partnership.

Mrs Boamah said, their ultimate goal was to spread the importance of malaria prevention and also to share treated mosquito nets to families and residents in the community. “Together with the community, we cleaned up the major street of Glefe and we are hoping that with our partnership with Zoomlion and the Municipal Assembly, this clean-up would be regular for us to sensitize the people on the need to keep their environment clean. She said the country could attain a ‘zero malaria’ case when people changed their attitude towards the environment, adding that, government needed to put strong measures to make sure that the environment was clean.

Dr Vanessa Atikpui, of West Rescue Association advised that, the indigenes must strive to keep their environment clean by clearing all stagnant waters, which were breeding grounds for mosquitoes. “To achieve zero malaria, we need to start from our own homes by burning trash instead of throwing it anywhere in the community,”

Madam Joyce Abbey, Metropolitan Health Director of the area said, malaria was the most recorded disease at the local health facilities and lauded the education, which she said had given them the opportunity to learn about the prevention and dangers of the disease.

She was hopeful that the situation could improve after the campaign with the education given.