A Lecturer with the department of conservation Biology and entomology of the University of Cape Coast, Dr. John Essandoh says it is the collective role of the government and Ghanaians to ensure that the fight against malaria in the country is won.
He said in ensuring that the fight against the disease is won, the global coverage agenda should be expanded to make sure that everyone in Africa who is at risk of contracting malaria has access to bednet, has access to the vaccine, and has access to artesunate-amodiaquine.
“So the tools are not perfect, but lets roll the imperfect tools and as it rolls we perfect it”, Dr. Essandoh said while discussing the world malaria day on the theme Advance Equity, Build Resilience, End Malaria on the ATLANTIC WAVE on Monday, 26th April.
According to him, clinical control trials have been done on the vaccines for malaria which has an efficacy rate of 50% which are good and can be used to control the disease.
Malaria continuous to be the leading cause of mortality in most countries globally particularly developing countries. In Ghana, the Health Service indicates that the country contributed to 3% of global malaria cases last year. There is hence the need to expand the nationwide eradication agenda.
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To push this drive, commemoration day cannot be overlooked. It is important to raise awareness about this life-threatening disease that continues to be a menace to humanity and encourage action to reduce suffering and death from the disease.
Malaria intervention strategies are said to have halted in the latter part of 2019 in terms of research, in terms of distribution of bed net, and rolling vaccines across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr. Essandoh believes it is time to go back to the drawing board “and then recalculate our steps and then strategize new approaches in tackling the malaria problem.”
This, he said is necessary because for the past two years malaria cases are surging across Sub-Saharan Africa and we are recording more deaths now.
SOURCE: Vera Siripi/ATLFMNEWS
