Bolgatanga, Feb 10, GNA - The Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Organization, (ADDRO) in the Upper East Region has extended its anti-malaria programme to the Eastern and Western Regions as part of the organization's move to reduce malaria in these areas. The programme, which involves awareness creation through community education, the distribution of treated bed nets and monitoring of the use of the nets especially by children and pregnant women, has five-year duration renewable upon a successful implementation.

The Episcopal Relief Development (ERD), a United States based charity organization in collaboration with Coca-Cola and Standard Chartered Bank, funded the anti-malaria programme also known as 'NetForLife' in 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana. The Very Reverend Dr Jacob Ayeebo, Executive Director of ADDRO said this at the start of a five-day orientation programme organized for staff of the organization in Bolgatanga. He said serving the physical needs of community members was obligatory and an integral part of Christianity that could not be isolated.

Rev. Dr Ayeebo mentioned Aburi, Nsawam and the Akwapim North and South Districts in the Eastern Region, and Sefwi-Wiawso and Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai in the Western Region as the beneficiary districts. He said ADDRO sought to share the good news of Christ to all and to ensure that the people in the communities in which it operated had equal rights and opportunities to sustainable and dignified livelihoods. Rev. Dr Ayeebo said ADDRO worked in seven key thematic areas that had the greatest potential to make positive impact on the communities and that included agriculture and sustainable livelihoods, health, education and advocacy, the environment governance and peace building, disaster and relief and capacity development.

The Executive Director said ADDRO's development philosophy was guided by the principle of sustainable human, social and economic developments adding, "We believe that development is about emancipation, empowerment, awareness creation, capacity building and providing opportunities for socio-economic improvement." He said the purpose for the extension of the anti-malaria programme to the two regions was as a result of studies that showed high prevalence of the disease in those areas. He said the object was to increase the awareness level on the mode of transmission, control and prevention in order to reduce the prevalence rate. Rev. Dr Ayeebo said the organization was implementing five other development programmes including food security and livelihoods, gender reproductive health, community-based rehabilitation, water and sanitation, and emergency relief aid most of which were based in the three northern regions.