Stakeholders in the provision of treatment of malaria urged to RDTs

Dr Mu-Aria Zakaria (Left)

RDT demonstration

Studies by the Ghana Health Service reveal that malaria still remains one of the leading causes of death among pregnant women and children under five. Most malaria deaths occur within 48 hours after the first symptoms appear. Despite the dangers in the use of non-effective malaria treatment, there has been a significant over-use of anti-malaria drugs. This is because many cases of fever are often treated as malaria even without a blood test or laboratory confirmation. The normal use of microscopy in the detection of malaria is said to be limited in access either because there may not be a microscope or a trained health officer to discover the existence of malaria parasites. Also clinical or presumptive diagnosis have also been a challenge over the years as health workers do not see whether a patient has malaria parasite but rather presume that anyone with fever has malaria. It is against this backdrop that the institute of Social Research and Development, ISRAD, partnered the Ghana Health Service, GHS, to introduce and advocate the use of Rapid Diagnostic Kits, RDTs, to assist in the easy diagnosis of malaria parasites.  Since its introduction of the RDTs, the proportion of data attributable to clinical or presumptive diagnosis has reduced to about 70 percent. At a Regional Pre-Implementation Stakeholders meeting, in Bolgatanga, health workers involved in the provision of the treatment of malaria were implored to prioritize the use of RDTs. The Executive Director of ISRAD, Dr Mu-Aria Zakaria, explained that RDTs are largely non-invasive and easy to use work because of the antigens that are produced by the plasmodium. He stressed that the use of the kits give results in fifteen minutes as compared to the use of microscope which sometimes delay results. He said though no diagnostic measure is 100 percent, the use of RDTs is more advanced and can help identify patients who do not have malaria so that they can receive correct and timely treatment.  The Regional Coordinator of ISRAD, Abdul Razak said the use of RDTs is worth pursuing since it is tested and proven.   He said the meeting formed part of ISRAD’s behaviour change communication strategy for the promotion of the use of microscope and RDTs for malaria diagnostic which starts the campaign kick starts.  Mr Razak commended DFID, GHS and all partners involved in the prevention and treatment of malaria for their support. The meeting attracted pharmacists, nurses, doctors and traditional herbal medicine practitioners.  

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