LaDMA, Ablekuma West champion malaria elimination and vaccination drive

The La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly and Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly have stepped up efforts to eliminate malaria and boost immunisation uptake through coordinated town hall meetings and community outreach activities.

The engagements, held as part of African Vaccination Week under the theme “For Every Generation, Vaccines Work”, brought together local authorities, health professionals, civil society organisations and community members to advance public health education and prevention.

The events also formed part of activities marking World Malaria Day, ahead of World Immunisation Day celebrations from April 24 to 30, 2026.

Participants included persons with disabilities, particularly members of the Disable Christian Fellowship International, the Ghana Federation of Disability and other groups, with support from the Concern Health Education Project.

Addressing the gathering, Ms Rita Odoley Sowah, Member of Parliament for La Dade Kotopon and Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, called for greater inclusion and support for persons with disabilities.

She reiterated the commitment of the government under President John Dramani Mahama to make healthcare accessible to all, including vulnerable groups.

Ms Sowah highlighted the MahamaCare initiative, officially known as the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, which is designed to provide financial support for individuals living with chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and kidney failure.

She said the initiative aims to ease the financial burden on families while improving access to quality healthcare and encouraged persons with disabilities to take advantage of the programme.

“PWDs form part of the priority list of the President, Vice President and government,” she stated.

The Municipal Chief Executive for La Dade Kotopon, Mr Afredos Nii Anyetei, reaffirmed government’s commitment to free primary healthcare and pledged continued support for the health system within the municipality.

Health officials and other speakers at the event called for accelerated rollout of malaria vaccines, particularly to protect children under five, and urged strict adherence to the “test, treat and track” approach for malaria management.

They also emphasised the importance of sleeping under insecticide-treated nets and maintaining clean environments to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.

Authorities in both municipalities noted that malaria elimination is achievable if households adopt preventive practices and sanitation efforts are sustained.

As part of the outreach, residents in La Dade Kotopon benefited from a health screening exercise led by the La Health Directorate under the supervision of Dr Caryn Osei, Municipal Director of Health Services.

Health workers from La Polyclinic, in collaboration with civil society groups, conducted rapid diagnostic tests and provided general health checks, while educating residents on immunisation, growth monitoring and primary healthcare.

Community-based organisations also engaged households directly to build confidence in vaccines, stressing their safety and effectiveness.

The engagements highlight a growing multi-sector approach to public health in the Greater Accra Region, with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to malaria elimination and sustained vaccination efforts.

They noted that improving public health outcomes remains critical to national development, as a healthy population supports economic growth and productivity.