Voices for Malaria-Free Future Project of the John Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programmes (JHU/CCP) in Ghana, has called for conscious efforts to mobilize community level advocates in the fight against malaria in the country.
Such advocates should include chiefs, family heads, local political leaders, religious organisations, local health facilities and traditional healers.
Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, Country Director of the JHU/CCP, made the call at a workshop for Malaria Advocacy Mentors from six districts in the Volta and Eastern Regions, including District Directors of Health, in Ho.
It was organized by the JHU/CCP in collaboration with the National Malaria Control Programme.
Mr Fiagbey said malaria advocacy should target patient care at the community level as well as policy implementation by agencies at the local Government level.
He said malaria advocacy required knowledgeable and confident mentors, capable of recruiting and inspiring advocates at the grassroots level, to enable them to effectively champion the anti-malaria campaign.
Mr Fiagbey said the Malaria-Free Future Project was being carried out in 18 districts throughout the country on account of the high incidence of malaria in those areas.
He said that the District Assemblies were committed to allocating 0.5 percent of their Common Fund to anti-malaria drive.
Dr Winfred Ofosu, Acting Deputy Director of Public Health, Volta Region, said the anti-malaria campaign needed to be taken up actively by all Ghanaians because of its developmental importance.