World Malaria Day celebrated in Ghana

World Malaria Day is celebrated on 25th April. Ghana is at risk of Malaria and accounts around 4% of global burden.

Malaria as a disease has been affecting the world from time immemorial. Africa especially Sub Saharan Africa has the bulk of the burden and stands at around 80% of the global burden of Malaria.

The whole of Ghana is at risk of malaria and accounts for 4% of the global burden and 7% of the malaria burden in West Africa and was responsible for 19% of all recorded deaths in 2010. This is despite the fact that the mortality attributable to malaria has declined significantly from 19% in 2910 t0 4.2% (2016).

Though the National Malaria Control Programme has tried very hard to reduce the malaria burden by the introduction of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs), The test has helped to disaggregate actual malaria cases at OPD from other diseases with similar symptoms as malaria. Despite this attempt malaria undoubtedly remains first in ranking on the national disease league table., a position it had held on to for decades.

The theme of this year's World Malaria Day celebration is just an appropriate one: 'Zero malaria starts with me" indicating that government alone cannot take up the malaria burden and defeating it effectively and efficiently and therefore the clarion call is to invite everyone on board the malaria prevention band wagon. It is advised that the only way to prevent malaria is to sleep under insecticide-treated nets in each and every night, perform the RDT when sick and get the right medication.

Communities and individuals are also advised to periodically keep the surroundings clean of weed, waste and stagnated water.