Greater Accra Health Directorate launches mosquito net distribution campaign

Ngleshie-Amanfro (GAR), Aug 16, GNA – The Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate has launched the door-to-door distribution of Long Lasting Insecticides Treated Nets (LLIN) Hang-up-Campaign at Ngleshie-Amanfro in the Ga South Municipality.

The campaign is targeted at achieving a universal coverage and considered critical and imperative in Ghana's quest to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) particularly, the goal to reduce deaths among children under five years old (MDG4).

Mr Issac Vanderpuiye, Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister, launching the campaign, said government was pursuing the Better Ghana Agenda in which health issues remained a priority as it was the most valuable asset and wealth that every country aspired to provide for the citizenry.

He said the Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Programme and its development partners were working hard to reduce malaria related maternal and infant mortality by ensuring that all children under five years, pregnant women and everyone owned and slept under the LLIN.

Mr Vanderpuiye said available statistics showed that malaria killed more children than any other disease and that most children who died of convulsion and anemia were found to have malaria saying “as you all know, the environmental conditions in some parts of the country and Greater Accra Region in particular favour the breeding of mosquitoes all year round resulting in transmission of malaria”.

He said since 2002, Ghana had consciously implemented mass Insecticides Treated Nets campaign adding that this was a different arrangement which had been a household registration exercise to register all beneficiaries, to provide one LLIN for every two persons in every household and community health volunteers trained and provided with all the needed logistics to hang up the LLIN for all beneficiaries.

Mr Jerry Nii Akwei Thompson, Ga South Municipal Chief Executive, said the situation was unacceptable as the desease could be prevented by maintaining a clean environment.

He announced that the Ga South Municipal Assembly had embarked on a series of clean-up exercises to rid the Municipality of filth as well as conducting a massive public education to encourage people to adopt the principle of cleanliness.

Mr Thompson said the assembly was providing assistance to more health facilities in the rural areas and one of them would be designated a Malaria Treatment Centre equipped with the necessary logistics.

Dr Edward Antwi, Acting Director of Health Service, said malaria was the leading cause of deaths among children in the country and entreated all beneficiaries to sleep under the nets and report to health centres immediately they suspected any sickness.

Mr John Kwao Sackey, Ga East Municipal Chief Executive, called on Ghanaians to support the Government's Better Agenda for nation to achieve her developmental goals.

GNA