Malaria cases reduce in 25 districts due to AngloGold spraying exercise
The number of malaria cases in 25 districts benefiting from the AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) the Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) exercise has reduced by 74 per cent in the last two years.
Advertisement
Under the $133 million Global Fund for the IRS programme, more than 1,474,909 buildings have been sprayed, with an estimated 2.5 million people protected from malaria.
The IRS was recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a safe method of malaria control and the National Malaria Control Programme is partnering the AGA to implement the exercise in Ghana.
The spraying exercise is expected to be extended to 40 districts by the fourth quarter of the year.
Combating mosquitoes
Briefing the media at Obuasi, the Programme Director of the AngloGold Ashanti Control Programme (AGAMal), Mr Sylvester Segbaya, said the exercise to combat malaria emanated from its Obuasi mines when company realised that a large percentage of its workforce was plagued by the illness.
He said the extension of the exercise after the successful pilot implementation in the Obuasi mine had not only reduced the burden of malaria in the beneficiary districts, but also reduced absenteeism in schools and workplaces.
He gave the assurance that a sensitisation exercise would be carried out for the people to appreciate the need to recognise and prevent possible infections, as well as early effective diagnosis and treatment.
Mr Segbaya said during the spraying exercise, more than 2,200 local people were trained and engaged for four months.
He advised the public to be cautious of the use of mosquito coils in the fight against malaria because fumes that emanated from it was very dangerous to one’s health.
According to him, the coils could best be used in open areas, or when used in an enclosed area, the user must ensure that the smoke is allowed to leave the room before they sleep.
Mr Segbaya noted that as the company strived to extend the spraying exercise to the entire country in the near future, it was also advisable for the populace to sleep in treated mosquito nets to help in the fight against this deadly disease.
