13-12-2011
Narration: The Regional launch of the door-door distribution of Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) and Hang-Up campaign has taken place in the Upper East Region with an estimated 500,000 bed nets earmarked for distribution in the region. The exercise which is to increase ownership and effective utilisation of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Bed Nets for all household members is targeted at reducing the burden of Malaria by 75 percent by the year 2015, an adopted goal set under the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP). At a Regional Planning and Advocacy Meeting held for stakeholders at Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo observed that with effective hang up volunteers and strict monitoring and supervision, the region is poised to reaching the set target as various interventions have been roped into the fight against malaria in the region. Isaac Asare was at the launch and the rest of the story.
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Mr. Woyongo called on stakeholders to put their shoulders to the wheel and assist in whichever way they can to ensure the successful execution of the exercise which is to said to take place at pre-identified areas in the respective municipal ad districts across the region. According to Mr. Woyongo, the distribution of the bed nets will increase retention of LLITNs in households and also create an opportunity for on-on-one interaction for behaviour change communication as well as health messages through hang up volunteers and supervisors. He said the region has chalked tremendous success in the fight against malaria and has for this reason map out strategies to ensure effective decline of malaria among pregnant women and children under five which will in turn reduce maternal and infantmaternal mortality rate. Mr. Woyongo revealed that with the various malaria interventions put in place including the “Roll Back Malaria” strategy, the region for the year 2011 has recorded a steady decline of 277,022 cases of malaria representing 43.4 percent of all OPD cases as against 645,379 and 709,877 cases recorded in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Under five mortality, he indicated has reduced by 10 percent, an indication that malaria is less becoming the major cause of under five mortality in the region’s health facilities, and attributed the success to hard working staff and partners of the health sector of the region. Mr. Woyongo therefore entreated stakeholders to play their respective roles effectively during the hang up exercise and further called on the municipal and district chief executives to make funds and other logistics available for the smooth take off and execution of the hang up campaign. The media, agencies and departments were also charged to set up the social mobilization and information dissemination activities of any form in order to increase awareness. The Regional Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr James Akpablie announced that the upcoming door-to door distribution of ITNs and the hang up campaign which is schedule to kick start within the first quarter of 2012 will be undertaken alongside an indoor residual spraying exercise. The exercise, he said, requires the support of chiefs, opinion leaders, security agencies and institutions to ensure its successful implementation. He advised the general public particularly community members to get involve in malaria control activities so that malaria would be reduced to the barest minimum. Dr Akpablie mentioned poor environmental practices and non-adherence on the best use of ITN as some of the challenges militating in the fight against malaria and appealed to the general public to work in that direction. A national Malaria Control Officer, Mrs Aba Baffoe Wilmot said the hang up campaign is targeted at achieving a universal coverage and hoped that the exercise would be conducted devoid of politics, religion and ethnicity. A 23-member steering committee was later inaugurated to steer the affairs of the campaign. The committee is being chaired by the Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo and has GBC as one of the committee members.
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