The prevalence rate of Malaria within Adansi North district of the Ashanti Region has been reduced by 53 percent, Health Director for the district, Eric Atuahene Agyemang, has disclosed.
According to him, in 2021 a total 25,767 suspected Malaria cases were recorded – with 54 percent of them coming out positive. But in 2022 the health directorate recorded 24,799 suspected cases with 53 percent turning out to be positive.
He added that the district recorded about 3,450 cases of children under five years, with 60 percent coming out positive.
However, the prevalence rate reduced to 22 percent in the year 2022 – seeing a massive reduction in the rate due to regular sensitisation and the malaria control programme by AGA.
Mr. Eric Atuahene Agyemang said this at a mini-clinic organised by AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine for people of Ayaase in the Adansi North district to mark this year’s World Malaria Day.
The celebration was on the theme ‘Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate, Implement’.
AGA supports 1.3 million people annually
Meanwhile, at least 1.3 million people in the country have benefitted from AngloGold Ashanti’s Malaria Control Programme (AGAMAL) in partnership with the Global Fund annually, Edmund Oduro Agyei – Stakeholder Superintendent at AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine (AGA), has revealed.
He added that since instituting AGAMAL, malaria prevalence within the 16 districts in which the programme is active has been reduced by 70 percent.
Speaking at the event to bring free healthcare for the people of Ayaase in the Adansi North district, Mr. Agyei explained that AGAMAL was established to help fight malaria in the communities where AGA operates; and also ensure their staff, families and people living in the communities stay healthy at all times.
Mr. Agyei mentioned that malaria has a lot of negative effects on a community, and so it became necessary for it to be controlled rapidly. He emphasised that when malaria becomes endemic in the community where they operate they will not be to work as expected, and this will negatively affect the people’s development rate.
Due to this, in the year 2006 AGA instituted the AGA Malaria Control Programme to fight against malaria. This programme has brought many benefits to the Adansi traditional area since its inception, and has been able to reduce the malaria prevalence rate by 70 percent.
Mr. Agyei indicated that apart from the Adansi area, the AGAMAL programme is now operational in the Upper East and Upper West Regions. He further called on institutions, NGOs and other supporting organisations to help expand their work to prevent and eradicate malaria from the country.
Also speaking at the event, District Chief Executive Officer-Adansi North, Eric Kwaku Kusi, appealed for AGA to reintroduce its anti-malaria spraying exercise to help reduce the rate of acquiring the sickness.
He then called on all and sundry to come together and work toward fighting malaria by adhering to all safety protocols: such as sleeping under treated mosquito nets; using mosquito repellants; and cleaning the environment regularly among others.
