Manso-Nkwanta (Ash), Nov 19, GNA - The Amansie West district has since 2001 to date recorded 13,001 malaria cases, Mr Ben Kwakye-Adeefe, the District Chief Executive has disclosed.

He said the disease ranked as the number one cause of Out-Patients Department (OPD) cases in the district.

This was contained in a speech read on his behalf at a luncheon held in honour of transferred and retired staff of the district directorate of health at Manso-Nkwanta on Thursday.

Mr. Kwakye-Adeefe said in order to address the problem, the district assembly was supporting the district health directorate with 145 million cedis to embark on malaria control health programme. He said the assembly had also taken measures to train and retrain health personnel to boost health service delivery in the district. The DCE said so far, 10 nurses and four health aides were undergoing training at the cost of 100 million cedis and that seven health aides had already benefited from the programme.

Mr Kwakye-Adeefe said four community clinics were also being constructed at Keniago, Abuaboso, Mpranease and Kayerekyerekrom to provide the people with quality health delivery.

The projects, he said, were being funded through the assembly's share of the common fund, the Social Investment Fund and internally generated funds.

Mr Joseph Adomako, the District Director of Health Services, commended the staff for their commitment to duty.

Four retired and four transferred staff were honoured by the assembly for their dedication to duty and hardwork.