The director of the Malaria Research Center at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho, Professor Evelyn Korkor Ansah, has reiterated that it is possible to eliminate malaria in Ghana.
“There’s no excuse that my country is too small, my population is too small, or my people are too many for us to be able to do this (malaria elimination); it has been proven that this is possible,” she said.
Ghana in 2022 has been elevated from reduction status to elimination status by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Prof Ansah described the development as a significant change.
She made the call in a virtual summit organised by the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMEREN) on Friday (18 August) to mark this year’s World Mosquito Day.
Prof Ansah also noted that research has proven that a country’s economy is likely to do well when malaria is well tackled.
“Analysis of data on malaria and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from about 180 countries shows that for each 10% reduction in malaria incidence, there’s an average rise of 0.3% GDP per capita, a faster GDP growth,” she said.
For her part, Professor Emeritus Rose Leke, the board chair, Medical Research Institute, and researcher of the Biotechnology Center, University of Yaounde-Cameroon urged media practitioners to use new media to disseminate the call for the reduction and elimination of malaria in affected countries.
She said that the media, among other stakeholders, should use local languages in educating the public on malaria issues.
More than 50 media practitioners, including health professionals and academics, participated in the webinar with a pledge to join forces against malaria in Africa.
Reporting by Albert Kuzor in the Volta Region
Asaase Radio 99.5 broadcasts on radio via 99.5 in Accra, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 100.3 in Cape Coast and on our affiliates Bawku FM 101.5 in Bawku, Beats FM 99.9 in Bimbilla, Somua FM 89.9 in Gushegu, Stone City 90.7 in Ho, Mining City 89.5 in Tarkwa and Wale FM 106.9 in Walewale
Tune in to broadcasts online: www.asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
Live streaming on facebook.com/asaase99.5. Also on YouTube: AsaaseXtra.
Join the conversation. Call: 020 000 9951 or 059 415 7777. Or WhatsApp: 020 000 0995.
#Asaase321
#TheVoiceofOurLand
#WeAreHere
#WeLoveOurLand
#SafeMotorway4All
