Ghana is targeting a 90% reduction in malaria mortality by 2028 and aims to eliminate the disease in 21 districts identified as having a very low malaria burden by the same year. This initiative aligns with the World Health Organization’s global technical strategy for malaria (2016-2030), which seeks to achieve a significant reduction in malaria mortality rates worldwide by 2030.
Despite these goals, Ghana remains classified as a high-burden malaria country, with the disease being the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among children under five and pregnant women. According to the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), malaria accounts for approximately 20% of all outpatient visits and 22% of all hospital admissions in the country (NMEP, 2022).
In 2022, Ghana reported over 5.2 million confirmed malaria cases and 151 related deaths, reflecting a decline in national prevalence from 14.1% in 2019 to 8.6% in 2022. The Greater Accra Region has the lowest prevalence at 2.0%, while the Oti Region experiences the highest at 15.0%. Dr. Keziah Malm, manager of the NMEP, noted progress in reducing malaria parasite prevalence among children under five.
She highlighted the importance of a sub-national elimination approach, acknowledging that while complete elimination of Malaria by 2028 across the entire country may not be feasible, focusing efforts in specific regions could yield positive results. Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of the Public Health Division at the Ghana Health Service, emphasized the economic impact of malaria on the country.
Additionally, Dr. Malm stressed the need for private sector involvement and support from various stakeholders in the fight against malaria. Malaria remains a high-priority disease, necessitating ongoing collaboration among international, national, and inter-agency stakeholders to effectively plan and implement strategies aimed at the elimination of Malaria.
SOURCE: https://dew360.net
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