The fire reportedly started around 3:20 pm. Photo Line captured footage of the fire at 5:25 pm, while members of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) were still trying to extinguish the flames using three fire engines and other firefighting equipment. The firefighters were working hard to control the fire and prevent it from spreading further.
The collective fight against malaria
According to recent reports, the Volta and Western regions of Ghana have the highest number of malaria cases, accounting for 47.4% of the country's total cases. The Director of Health for the Amansie South District, Dr. Kwai Nasas, shared this information during the annual International Malaria Day celebration at Pacifica Karan in the Ashanti region. He also mentioned that the Western region had a slight increase in cases from 2016 to 2019, based on the Ghana Health Service's data from 2019. The theme for this year's celebration was "Enhance Equity, Build Collective Power, Stop Malaria."
Dr. Casas stated that health workers have been actively distributing treated mosquito nets in these areas, especially to pregnant women and children, while also engaging in mass "reductive exercise" to control the spread of the disease. Despite the devastating impact of malaria, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana has made progress in reducing the death toll from malaria-related deaths. The number of deaths dropped from 1264 in 2016 to 308 in 2020.
However, health officials are calling for greater collaboration to further reduce malaria morbidity and mortality, and ensure that waiting times at the country's health centers do not exceed 5 minutes. Ahmed Mohadini-Yahaya, the Acting General Manager of Danko Gold Ghana Exploration Company, stated that the emergence of the COVID-19 outbreak led to a 12% increase in malaria-related deaths globally in 2020.
More than 640 million cases of the disease were reported worldwide in the same year, resulting in 627,500 deaths. "More than two-thirds of these deaths occurred among children under the age of 5 in sub-Saharan Africa," he said. "As a company committed to the health of its employees and the people in our catchment community, Danko Gold has taken various steps to help reduce the burden."
In 2019, the mining corporation supplied each student bed inside the Pacifica Adubia senior higher school, as well as in an identical region, with treated netting in an attempt to decrease the risk of malaria. Moreover, in 2021, the same company extended the same gesture to the Montefusco SHS.
The acting common manager added that in collaboration with Giz, the regional health directorate in both Amansie Southern and West, the national malaria control program has trained selected health personnel in a refresher course aimed at warding off the risk. Currently, Danko Mines is providing 2,000 treated nets to students in the Anansie South district with the assistance of the district education directorate.
As part of the program, a full-scale medical center with a lab has been set up to provide free screening and treatments to affected individuals. Technical marketing consultant, Giz Expand's Madam Jane Bonus, said her outfit was ready to strengthen the economic and health power in the catchment communities of the private partners in the mining industry.
The outfit is helping to create more awareness of the negative impact of the situation and helps in conflict resolution. World Malaria Day is honored every year on April 25 and recognizes global efforts to control the disease. Globally, 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of malaria.
Ghanaians are being advised to avoid self-medicating for malaria on the occasion of Global Malaria Day. The Scientific Director of Koforidua Essential Health Facility, Dr. Foster Tampons, has urged Ghanaians to seek professional medical help instead of self-medicating, which could make the treatment of malaria more difficult. This advice was given during a donation of anti-malaria drugs by FunGVS Pharma to a healthcare center ahead of World Malaria Day.
According to statistics, 5.9 thousand Ghanaians were diagnosed with malaria in 2020, which was a significant drop from the previous year's 6.7 thousand cases. However, Dr. Foster Tampons believes that malaria is still a major issue in Ghana and requires adequate attention, despite the rollout of the malaria vaccine. He emphasized the need for Ghanaians to remain vigilant and seek professional medical care as soon as they suspect they have malaria.
They also mentioned that the prevalence rate of malaria in the region is still high, but they have been able to achieve some significant reductions. The medical director noted that while malaria cases are still high in the outpatient clinic, the number of deaths caused by malaria has decreased. Dr. Tampons advised the public to follow the recommended prevention and treatment procedures for malaria and avoid using home remedies that can lead to medication resistance.
In preparation for the 2022 Global Malaria Day, Bliss GVS Pharmaceuticals has donated GH¢30,000 worth of anti-malaria drugs to a healthcare facility to support the treatment of malaria in the region. According to Sandra Away Gaynor, the local representative of the pharmaceutical company, "The initiative is aimed at eliminating malaria in Ghana."
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