First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo has said a total of 1,001,070 malaria cases was recorded between January and March 2020 in the country, she said health practitioners should not focus only on COVID-19 but also malaria since it is taking many lives.

"Current focus on COVID-19 should not distract Ghanaians from the fight against malaria," she said.

According to her, malaria continues to claim too many lives in Africa and beyond which health workers must take notice off, even though COVID-19 is a trend disease in the system there’s need to look at the other communicable diseases affecting and taking lives of many in the country.

First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, noted that available statistics from the Ghana Health Service revealed that the country recorded a total of 54 malaria deaths between January and March this year.

Sixteen out of the 54 malaria deaths occurred among children under five.

Also, a total of 1,001,070 malaria cases were recorded between January and March 2020 in the country.

Out of the 1,001,070 malaria cases, 28,764 were pregnant women and 21,201, children under age five.

In a Facebook post on Friday, 3 July 2020, Mrs Akufo-Addo stated: “As we continue to fight this COVID-19 pandemic, one of our oldest foes, malaria continues to plague Africa.

Zero malaria is achievable when we all show commitment and collaborate better. It requires both our individual and collective effort.”