Ghana to step up fight against malaria

Ghana has pledged to increase its efforts to eradicate malaria from the country, with the government emphasising the share of the country's health budget used to fight the disease.

Speaking at a summit of Ghanaian health development leaders, health minister Courage Quashigah called for urgent steps to be taken to stem the spread of malaria nationwide, AfriquEngline reported.

He also warned that the cost of fighting the disease was equivalent to the ministry's entire budget for 2008 and without improved prevention other budgets, including the country's National Health Insurance Fund, would be affected.

Mr Quashigah calculated the cost of malaria treatment at $32.65 (£16) per person, but emphasised that as this figure was based on estimated cases the total cost was probably greater than that.

"For this reason, in 2008, we will continue with the distribution of insecticide treated nets and promote the intermittent treatment of malaria among pregnant women as well as the proper case management of those with malaria," he said.

According to World Health Organization statistics, 33 per cent of deaths among children under five in Ghana are caused by malaria, with only four per cent of that age group protected by insecticide-protected nets when sleeping in 2003.

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