Zoomlion champions nationwide malaria control programme

It cost Ghana $760 million to treat malaria. The disease accounts for 40% out of the 70% communicable diseases in Ghana.

According to the Minister of Health, Mr. George Sipa Yankey, malaria increases the disease burden of the country and accounted for 10% of the country's GDP in 2007.

He said that the cost of medication and the loss of productive hours annually, requires that Ghana as a developing country work hard to create a healthy country, with a healthy people to be able to create wealth.

He stated this at the launch of the Nationwide Malaria Control Programme in Koforidua, Eastern region. It is an initiative by Zoomlion Ghana Limited in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

Other collaborating institutions are the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, National Youth Employment Programme and Environmental Protection Agency. It is under theme, "Getting Rid of Mosquito = Getting Rid of Malaria."

He said that it would save Ghana a lot if she is able to eliminate malaria. "Malaria is no respecter of persons. It doesn't matter if one is an NDC, NPP, CPP or PNC follower. Now that the elections are over, every Ghanaian has a duty to join in the fight against malaria," he stressed.

Mr. Yankey explained that a major commitment of the government is to eliminate malaria and that the initiative will not be a nine-day wonder but would be sustained to ensure that by next year Ghana will be first in West Africa to eliminate malaria. He disclosed plans by Ghana to build an anti-malaria crusade to help fight malaria in West Africa through skill transfer.

The Nationwide Malaria Control Programme (NAMCOP) will involve among other activities indoor and outdoor residual spraying of households and all boarding schools, intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women and increase distribution of treated bed nets. Alhaji Mohammed Habib, National Coordinator of NAMCOP explained the objective is to control mosquitoes in a scientific way so as to prevent mosquito transmitted diseases.

He said that Zoomlion will clean drains of filth in towns, villages and around homes and de-silt drains in order to prevent collection of stagnant water."Other activities would include regular and frequent clearing of bushes, the domestic garbage collection and destruction of receptacles and other sources with the potential to collect water and breed mosquitoes, as well as spraying of dead water bodies."Alhaji Habib added that five thousand people will be employed under the programme.

The Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin who chaired the occasion lauded the NAMCOP aimed to create awareness and commitment to eradicate malaria from Ghana. He deduced that the fore fathers were not as educated as the citizenry now, but could prevent and protect themselves from diseases such as malaria.

He said that Ghanaians need a complete attitudinal change in their houses, workplaces and neighbourhoods to be able to live well to stop malaria. "Ghana will be well if we enforce the rules and regulations. Malaria is treatable and collectively we must work to keep the environment clean. We must have the courage to let the law take its course."

Zoomlion has acquired about five thousand motorbikes, spraying machines and other related equipment and insecticides for the exercise. One Owoahene Nana Acheampong has been chosen the Mosquito Ambassador and regional ambassadors have also been chosen to lead in the crusade to free Ghana of malaria.