This was disclosed in Accra yesterday at the launching of the National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan 2024 to 2028, on the theme ‘Zero Malaria Starts Now-Launching Ghana’s Path to Elimination.’

• Dr Nsiah-Asare (third from left), Mr Kweku Agyeman-Manu (second from left), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye (right) and other dignitaries applauding after launching the national malaria elimination strategic plan Photo. Ebo Gorman

The objective of the plan is to ensure that 100 per cent of the population have “adequate knowledge, attitudes, practices and requisite skills for malaria elimina­tion by 2028.”

It would also ensure that 100 per cent of confirmed malaria cases are appropriately, effectively and completely treated by 2028.

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, whose speech was read for him by the Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare lauded various stakeholders for their contributions towards the devel­opment of the National Strategic Plan.

To this end, the President called on relevant stakeholders, both in the private and public sectors to take ownership of the strategies outlined in the strategic docu­ment.

Additionally, he urged the stake­holders to work in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service towards the full implementation of the planned activities.

The President indicated that he was confident that the sub-nation­al elimination approach adopted would help the country achieve the target of “zero malaria” con­sidering progress made in recent years.

He further assured the govern­ment’s commitment in providing the needed resources to support the development and implemen­tation of various strategies and elimination activities.

The Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, said the government efforts to control ma­laria in Ghana led to the creation of a malaria control unit within the Ministry of Health (MoH).

“National Malaria Elimination Programme was established to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality rates by 75 per cent by 2020, using 2012 as a baseline,” he said.

Mr Agyeman-Manu said the ministry had made significant progress in reducing the burden of malaria in the last decades, “with smart investments, strong and enduring partnerships, a dedicated workforce and effective leadership, we have reached mil­lions with lifesaving interventions. Malaria-related deaths at all ages reduced from 3889 in 2008 to 155 by the end of 2022 (96 per cent reduction).

He said the under-five malar­ia case fatality rate also reduced from 1.7 per cent in 2008 to 0.06 per cent in 2022 (a 65 per cent reduction).

According to him, the health services delivery data analysis showed that malaria remained the number one cause of health facili­ty visit in the country in 2022.

Furthermore, he said malaria had consistently constituted more than 20 per cent of all diseases diagnosed at the Out Patient Department, (OPD) from 2018 to 2022.

“Also, available data from the 2022 Holistic Assessment report shows that the Upper East Region recorded the worst malaria inci­dence of 349.2 per 1,000 popu­lation, whilst the Greater Accra Region posted the best of 38.2 per 1,000 population,” he said.

The World Health Organisa­tion, Representative, Dr Sharmila Lareef called for political commit­ment, partnerships and adequate investment in the elimination of the disease.

Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye said, the disease imposed a heavy eco­nomic burden on households, the Health System, and the National Economy, adding that malaria-re­lated illnesses and deaths led to loss of productivity, absentee­ism from work and school, and increased healthcare costs.

 BY AGNES OPOKU-SARPONG AND PRECIOUS NYARKO BOAKYE