The Ashanti Regional Director of Health, Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang has cautioned the public against the use of the insecticide-treated nets (mosquito nets) distributed by the government for fencing gardens, covering refuse and other unapproved uses.
He said the nets were not meant for any other use beyond warding off mosquitoes to prevent malaria.
Dr Tenkorang warned that such unhealthy practices exposed communities and households to mosquitoes and impeded the country’s fight against malaria.
Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang stated this during the inauguration of a five-day registration exercise for the “2024 Point Mass Distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN).”
This significant public health initiative according to him is aimed at combating malaria, will commence on Friday, 7th June, and end on Tuesday, 11th June, 2024.
Emphasising the socio-economic and health impacts of malaria on the region and the nation, Dr. Tenkorang highlighted the persistent threat malaria poses despite being a preventable disease.
He noted that malaria continues to be the leading cause of outpatient department (OPD) cases in the Ashanti Region.
“Malaria, aside from its health, has a huge socio-economic burden in the region and the nation as well.
It has been the leading cause of Out-patient Department (OPD) reported cases in the region, although preventable; the disease remains a public health menace,” he stated.
The registration exercise is a key component of the National Malaria Elimination Programme, which aims to reduce the incidence and mortality of malaria, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children under five years and pregnant women.
“The primary objective of the National Malaria Elimination Programme is to reduce disease and death due to malaria, especially in children under five years and pregnant women,” Dr. Tenkorang emphasized.
The net distribution, targets children under five years and pregnant women and other vulnerable citizens in the region for the intervention of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), seeking to eradicate the disease in Ghana.
He encouraged the Ghanaians to religiously sleep under the net to collectively help prevent malaria and ensure the continuity of their education.
He intimated that malaria was a burden on the economy, education and other sectors of development and it was prudent to strengthen efforts to eliminate it as soon as possible.
Dr Tenkorang observed that Ghana had made significant strides in the fight against malaria and its burden had been reduced drastically, but more needed to be done.
He added that the government was spending so much to further help reduce the disease burden, especially on children and pregnant women.
He expressed the Health Directorate’s resolve to support the Programme to achieve the zero-malaria vision in the Ashanti Region.
Dr. Tenkorang also outlined the geographical scope of the registration, covering all households in 41 districts within the Ashanti Region, excluding Obuasi West and Obuasi East.
The urgency of this initiative is underscored by the rising number of malaria cases in the region. In 2023, the total OPD malaria cases were 924,847, a significant increase from 804,112 cases in 2022.
This alarming rise highlights the critical need for effective malaria prevention measures, such as the distribution of LLINs.
The five-day registration exercise represents a proactive step by the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate to combat malaria and safeguard public health.
