Accra April 22, GNA - Rotary International, USA on Thursday presented 13,000 mosquito treated nets worth 50,000 US dollars to the Ministry of Health as part of their contribution in the fight against Malaria in Ghana.

Ms Ann Marie Lusiins, District Governor of Rotary Club, USA who presented the mosquito nets said the donation forms part of contribution towards the fight against malaria among children and pregnant women in the country.

Ms Lusins who, led a four- man delegation from USA said Ghana and Mali were selected as beneficiaries of 100,000 dollar worth of mosquito treated nets.

She said the group had paid a visit to the Children and the Maternity Block of the Korle Bu Teaching hospital to have a first hand information on the disease.

She further pledged to support and provide more medical equipment to the Children and Maternity Block of the hospital. Mr Moses Dani -Baah, Deputy Minister of Health who received the items thanked Rotary Club Ghana and USA for its support to the Ministry over the years.

According him, Rotary Clubs in Ghana have contributed immensely to the eradication of Polio by providing vaccines and organizing members to partake in the National Immunization Programmes.

He was grateful that Rotary International have decided to assist in the fight against malaria, which, he said constituted 40 per cent of cases recorded at the Out Patient Department of hospitals in the country. Mr Dani -Baah said the Ministry has been trying to reduce deaths among pregnant women and children under five who die as result of malaria, adding that the nets had come at the right time to help reduce malaria cases.

The Deputy Minister told the team that Korle Teaching Hospital needs a lot of equipment and funds in order to achieve the status it deserved, adding government has put in place measures to achieve goals, but would need more assistance from other organisations.

Dr Constance Bart-Plange, Malaria Programme Manager noted that two people die every day in Ghana, as a result of malaria, adding over three million cases are recorded every year.

Dr Bart-Plange recounted governments efforts to control the disease but would need about three million mosquito nets to assist the malaria Control programme. April 22 04