About 200 persons died of malaria within the Ashanti Region in 2015 alone, health authorities have revealed.

Ashanti Regional Health Promoter Felix Frimpong who disclosed this on the Ultimate Breakfast Show, added that malaria continues to record high figures in all Out-Patient Department (OPD) cases in the Region.

He lamented that malaria has been a major cause of poverty and low productivity accounting for about 32.5 percent of all OPD attendances and 48.8 percent of fewer than five years admissions in the country. (NMCP annual report, 2009)

He also recognized that malaria cannot be controlled by the health sector alone therefore multiple strategies were being pursued with other health related sectors including the free distribution of mosquito treated nets for residents. In view of this, he said interventions were put in place to help in the control of the deadly disease.

Mr. Frimpong urged residents to keep clean surroundings and avoid creating conducive environment for mosquitoes to breed their larvae.