Ho, Nov 30, GNA - Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, Country Director, Johns Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programmes and Voices for a Malaria Free Future, has called on big commercial firms to get involved in the fight against malaria. He suggested that the firms allow the Malaria Free Campaign teams to get wares, including treated nets, to the people through their well-laid product distribution networks. Mr Fiagbey was addressing a forum dubbed Malaria and Development on the sidelines of the 14-day Volta Region Trade, Investment and Cultural fair going on in Ho.

The Forum themed "Sustaining Health for Healthier Growth and Development: Making the Volta Region Malaria Free" was organized by the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council (VRCC) in collaboration with the Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service and the Johns Hopkins University Centre for Communication programmes. Mr Fiagbey said banks could also support the drive to stem malaria by supporting health groups to buy nets and other gadgets. He said reducing malaria would boost production in all areas of the economy, raise profits of commercial firms and improve the general wellbeing of the people.

Mr Fiagbey gave examples of Greece, Spain, Italy and Jamaica, which recorded rapid growth after tackling malaria. He said an anti-malaria campaign initiative by the Anglo-Gold Ashanti at Obuasi also resulted in cutting reported cases by 75 per cent. Mr Fiagbey said the spillage of water from the Volta Lake could result in the breeding of hordes of mosquitoes in the pools created along the river sides.