Desist from behaviour, which renders Chloroquine ineffective

Saltpond (CR), Dec 30, GNA - The Pharmacist of the Saltpond District Hospital, Mr Derrick Owusu Ambrose, has urged Ghanaians to desist from behaviour, which renders Chloroquine ineffective for the treatment of Malaria.

Mr Ambrose said that until recently, Chloroquine was the first-line drug for uncomplicated or simple malaria, adding that, the non-compliance of the dosage made the parasites to develop resistance to Chloroquine.

This compelled the authorities to introduce Artesunate-Amodiaquine as the first-line drug for malaria. He stated that the non-compliance of the prescription of the new drug policy could lead to the same fate of the previous one and called for an intensive education on compliance.

Mr Ambrose was addressing a durbar to sensitise workers of the Saltpond District Hospital on the new malaria drug policy. Mr Hayford Frimpong, Hospital Administrator, said malaria, was a major public health problem in the District and advised the staff to take interest in knowing more about the treatment.

Mr Francis Zuradam Saareson, District Disease Control Officer, advised the staff to insist on the use of Sulphadoxine-Pyremethamine (SP) in preventing malaria in pregnant women. He also recommended Insecticide Treatment Bed-Nets for pregnant women and children below five years old.