Rights to Play Commemorates Africa Malaria Day

24-04-2010
About one thousand Long Lasting Insecticides Mosquito Treated Nets (LLITN) with “Athlete Trading Cards” , have been distributed to hundreds of children and community members at Winkongo, a deprived community in the Talensi –Nabdam District of the Upper East Region. The distribution which was spearheaded by Rights to play, an international Humanitarian Organisation with partnership from Action Child Mobilization, is in commemoration of the this year’s Africa Malaria Day, which falls tomorrow, April, 25. Isaac Asare and Afia Konama Afrifa witnessed the occasion and have the rest of the story for Radio Ghana.
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The event which was marked with sporting activities was on the theme: “Counting, Malaria Out”. It attracted some section of the public, chiefs, and elders of Winkongo, as well children from the neighbouring communities. The children were taken through activities on malaria prevention, knowledge of signs and symptoms, mode of transmission and strategies to avoid malaria infection. Following the event trained coaches will continue to facilitate malarial prevention games with children in the area once every week over a period of three months starting from May to July, 2010. The National Programmes Manager of Right to Play, Mr Tanko Yussif Azzika said the programme aims at kicking the deadly malaria infection out of the community through games. Sports, according to him, is an effective tool for the development of children and the youth in most disadvantaged areas of the world, stressing that since 2001, his outfit has been using sports and play as a tool in facilitating issues on integration of women, girls and other marginalized groups in the society. This, he said, has contributed immensely to the gradual reduction of malaria infection in most communities across the country. Mr Azzika stated that malaria is hyper endemic in the Upper East Region and still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country accounting for 40 percent of all Out Patient Attendance. Mr Azzika, however, emphasised the need for all to sleep under insecticide treated bed nets particularly pregnant women and children under five years. Pastor Francis Opoku of Action Child Mobilization in an Interview with Radio Ghana said the programme is also geared towards the holistic development of children in the deprived communities of the region. it would moreover, divert the children’s attention on their desire of migrating down south for menial jobs. He entreated participants to join in the advocacy and awareness creation on the importance of malaria prevention to help reduce its occurrence. Pastor Opoku pointed out that Royal Cadet Power Clubs have been formed in 47 communities across the region to educate and sensitize the various community members and children on the prevention of Malaria through proper use of the treated bed nets. He reminded participants to observe tomorrow’s 2010 Africa Malaria day by adopting good sanitary practices, in order to kick malaria out of the region and the country in general.
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