By: Rachel Kakraba
Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Opare has recommitted government’s determination to eliminate malaria elimination in Ghana. This she said will be done through galvanizing support to raise the needed resources and partnership that will end the malaria disease burden of Ghana.
“Looking into the future, the fight is now beginning. We can strive further to reduce cases and eventually record zero morbidity and mortality across the country”
The Chief of Staff was speaking at this year’s World Malaria Day celebration in Accra.
Ghana has since 2008 joined the global community to commemorate Malaria Day, which is observed annually on 25th April. The Day is set aside to bring to the fore the need for countries and the international community to invest and sustain political commitment for malaria prevention and elimination. It is also an opportunity to recognize efforts at fighting malaria and also to re-energize efforts at eliminating malaria.
This year’s event themed “Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate and implement, brought together researchers, traditional leaders, members of the diplomatic corps and religious leaders, who reflected on Ghana’s strides at malaria elimination.
The Chief of Staff, Frema Opare said government will continue to play leadership role that is critical at closing the funding gaps of malaria.
“Innovative mechanisms are required to mobilize resources domestically and internationally to augment existing resource streams including donor contributions, and thus close the national funding gap”
Madam Opare added.
“This needs to be done urgently through expansion of our networks and strengthening our Partnerships. Without adequate resources, it will be difficult, if not impossible to deliver on the goal and objectives of this strategic plan”.
She commended stakeholders in the health sector for their immense contribution that has seen incidence of malaria in Ghana reduce significantly. She said with the elimination agenda under the new National Malaria Strategic Plan the fight against malaria is now beginning. She encouraged stakeholders especially citizens take ownership of all intervention.
“It is a call to collectively raise our voices in unison to keep malaria high on the health and development agenda, raise a sense of urgency and communicate the optimism for what we can achieve together if we act now”
Minister of Health Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, said Malaria elimination is feasible with needed resources and called on the private sector to join the fight. He encouraged partners not to be fatigued in the journey to eliminate malaria, as achieving such is a shared responsibility.
“As we near the last mile, let’s not be fatigued, let’s reach within and without for strength to complete this journey, God being gracious to us , in our lifetime and I believe history will smile on us”
Country Director WHO, Dr. Francis Kasolo, said it is worrying that despite efforts at reducing incidence of the disease, malaria continues to affect children of poor households.
He said although the traditional tools of fighting malaria are still effective, WHO remains committed at coming out with additional interventions that can help Ghana in the elimination agenda.
