MTN distributes over 300 treated mosquito nets on Malaria Day

Accra, April 29, GNA - MTN Ghana Foundation has commemorated this year's World Malaria Day under the Foundation's 'Save A Life' initiative.

As part of the activities, MTN staff volunteers distributed over 300 Insecticide Treated Nets to pregnant women, children and nursing mothers in selected hospitals in four regions.

A statement signed by Georgina Asare Fiagbenu Senior Manager Corporate Communications, said the mosquito nets were distributed to patients in Tema General Hospital, Tafo Hospital in Kumasi, Bolgatanga Hospital and Cape Coast Hospital.

It said prior to the distribution of the nets MTN Ghana launched an internal fundraising project dubbed, 'Buy a Treated Net to Save A Life' and for every net a staff donated, the MTN Ghana Foundation matched it with two nets.

The statement said MTN Foundation's support for malaria eradication is an initiative to support efforts being made globally to fight malaria, provide education and better understanding of malaria as a global scourge that is preventable.

Speaking at Tema General Hospital, the Acting Corporate Services Executive, Mr Samuel Koranteng said, 'the objective to support the nationwide campaign for children and pregnant women to sleep under treated nets is because they are at a higher risk of being infected by malaria. Treated mosquito nets have proven to be one of the effective initiatives to control malaria.'

'Once we reduce malaria infections, the pressure on our health facilities will be reduced. Ghanaians will also spend less resources to drive malaria elimination campaigns and to import malaria drugs' he added.

Dr Kwabena Opoku-Adusei, Medical Director of Tema General Hospital, expressed his gratitude to the MTN Foundation for coming to support patients of the Hospital.

He said though some progress is being made to control the rate of malaria, more is needed to be done in terms of finding other ways to eradicate the disease.

He called on private organizations to emulate the example of MTN by supporting the campaign.

MTN staff volunteers in the Northern and Southern Business District were led byMr Peter Bimpah, MTN Commercial Head for Northern Business District and Mr Simon Amoh, Senior Manager for South West Business District respectively.

World Malaria Day falls on 25th April of every year, it is celebrated to recognize efforts being made globally to fight malaria and provide education and understanding of malaria as a global plague that is preventable.

This year's event was held under the theme, 'End Malaria for Good.'

GNA