Nadowli Assembly fails to support malaria control
The Nadowli District Assembly has failed to fulfill its promise of committing one percent of its share of the common fund to support malaria control activities in the District.
The Assembly has reneged on this commitment even though malaria accounts for 50% of deaths in health facilities in the District.
Madam Florence Ansomwine, the Nadowli District Director of Health Services, said this during a meeting of stakeholders of the Malaria Control Programme at Nadowli on Thursday.
The AngloGold Malaria Control Programme (AGAMAL), the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) and the Municipal and District Assemblies organised the meeting.
She said the Assembly made the promise in 2011 during a stakeholders’ meeting but had failed to fulfill the promise.
Madam Ansomwine said Article 252 of the 1992 constitution enjoins all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to commit a percentage of the District Assembly’s Common Fund to malaria control initiatives and other areas of concern.
She said the fulfillment of that promise by the Assembly would also mean a fulfillment of a constitutional mandate.
The Nadowli District Director of Health Service mentioned low utilisation of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs), lack of incentive packages for community volunteers, delay in reporting for diagnosis treatment, too many drug peddlers and inadequate public education and community participation as some of the challenges of malaria control in the District.
She proposed collaboration between stakeholders, strong leadership and political will, intensification of community education as well as stimulating local ITNs, industries and social marketing schemes to make the nets available at an affordable price.
Mr. Abraham Takura, Zonal Officer, Anglo Gold Ashanti Malaria Control Programme, said the vision of AGAMAL was to “establish effective, efficient and caring Malaria Control Programme responsive to the needs of communities”.
Mr. Takura said $133 million was approved by the Global Fund for the gradual scale-up of Indoor-Residual Spraying (IRS), which is expected to cover 40 districts in the next five years.
He said 3,800 jobs would be created within the period and called on all stakeholders, especially the media, to help intensify public education on the programme.
Source: GNA