The Bongo
District of the Upper East Region has made significant stride in the fight
against malaria. Last year, malaria
cases in the district reduced by more than half to about thirty thousand cases
with 13 deaths as compared to 26 and 30 deaths recorded in 2012 and 2013
respectively.
Malaria related deaths especially among children under five also
reduced drastically in the year under review.
From 2014 up to the end of July,
this year, the district did not record any child mortality due to malaria.
This
came to light at a durbar held to commemorate this year’s World Malaria Day at
Boko, a predominantly farming community in the Bongo District.
The Bongo District
Director of Health, Juliana Akugre, who made the disclosure, attributed the success story to increased
availability of Rapid Diagnostic Test kits, effective use of Long Lasting
Insecticide Nets, LLINs, Indoor Residual Spraying, IRS, activities and improved
case management among other interventions.
She said despite the progress made
in the area of malaria control, inadequate supply and utilisation of LLINs
continue to pose a major setback.
According to her, the situation is worrying
because the IRS activities in the district had ended. Madam Akugre, cited
awareness creation on the use of LLINs as one major intervention in the fight
against malaria and advised the public to sleep under treated mosquito bed nets.
She, moreover encouraged pregnant women to pay regular visit to nearby health facilities
for antenatal care while ensuring that children below age three are sent for growth
monitoring and for measles 2 vaccines.
She said malaria can best be controlled
through the regular use of LLINs, and preventive therapies for pregnant women and
children under five.
Madam Akugre commended the Boko community for being one of
the best communities in the utilization of LLINs during the ‘keep it up campaign’
in the region.
A representative from UNICEF, Georgina Offei, challenged
pregnant women to develop healthy behaviours before, during and after labour.
She
was emphatic on proper hand washing with soap, delivery at the health facility
and exclusive breastfeeding.
The Bongo DCE, Alexis Ayamdor commended the chiefs
and people of Boko for the progress made in the area of malaria control and called
for increased public education.
He said the assembly was committed to improving
on the health sector of the district and said plans were in place to construct
more CHP compounds in some identifiable communities.
He also pledged the
assembly’s support to provide potable water through the construction of more boreholes
for needy communities in the district.
GBC NEWS END IA/
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