Ghana’s efforts at eliminating malaria by 2030 faces serious challenges with funding. Though total eradication of the disease is achievable in the country, there are, however, calls for more resource mobilization and global donor investment in that sector.
This came up at an end of Project Meeting of Private Sector Malaria Prevention, PSMP, in Accra.
Project Director of PSMP, Dr. Mathew Lynch, asked government to be innovative with malaria interventions such as subsidies to the Long Lasting Insecticides Nets to encourage increased patronage among people.
Dr. Lynch said a major achievement of the project has been demystifying myths that hampered acceptance on usage of the Long Lasting Insecticides Nets.
He asked government to compliment global level advocacy to attract more donor support.
GBC’s Theresa Owusu Arko was honoured for her contribution to the fight against malaria in the country.
PSMP ensured various malaria interventions in private institutions such as the distribution of the Long Lasting Insecticides Nets to employees, their families and communities within their catchment area.
Some partnering companies shared their success story which they said has significantly reduced their malaria burden.
The Director of the Malaria Control Programme Dr. Keziah Malm, said to effectively deal with the issue of malaria robust strategies needs to be implemented to raise funds.
She said a malaria free Ghana would ensure improved productivity, reduced morbidity and mortality would generate economic benefits for the country.
The Private Sector Malaria Prevention Project, PSMP, which was a three year project was funded by the UK Department for International Development and was implemented by the John Hopkins Center for Communication Programme.
It worked with the Ghana National Malaria Control Programme and other stakeholders to accelerate private sector workplace investment in malaria control.
By: Rachel Kakraba.
