Free Africa From Mosquitoes (FAFM), a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), on Sunday fumigated Abokobi community in the Ga East Municipality to mark this year's World Malaria Day. The exercise served as a platform to sensitize residents of the Municipality on the need to adopt preventive measures against mosquito bites and malaria.

Mr. Paul Coonley Boateng, Chief Executive Officer of FAFM, said prevention of mosquito bites was significant in the component of malaria control in African countries

He said that could be achieved through personal protection measures such as the use of insecticides treated nets and preventive treatment with anti-malaria drugs for vulnerable people such as pregnant women.

Mr Boateng said malaria is one of the deadly diseases in Africa adding that 20% of childhood deaths was due to the effects of mosquito bites on the continent.

He added that malaria control could be ensured through community efforts noting that reliance on government machinery and NGO's efforts was not enough.

"We should lay great emphasis on educating the people about malaria and its control so that common people can effectively contribute to the control of this killer disease," he stressed.

Mr. Michele Turchi, Technical Director of FAFM, said poor people, who did not have the financial means to purchase drugs and bed nets to protect themselves from mosquito bites, were usually exposed to malaria. "Every year about one million people die from this disease, with most of the deaths occurring in Africa due to their restricted access to medical supplies and to something as simple as a mosquito net," he noted. Mr Turchi said FAFM would embark on a nationwide education and sensitization programmes to urge all stakeholders to collectively fight against mosquitoes and eradicate malaria.

He urged the Abokobi residents to periodically treat stagnant waters and control weeds to avoid mosquito breeding.

Mr Kwao Sackey, Municipal Chief Executive advised them to avoid self medication and report to health facilities for the treatment of the disease. He said government was committed to establish a major hospital at Madina to serve the people in the community and its environs. Nii Samuel Adjetey Mohenu, Chief of Abokobi, expressed his happiness to FAFM for fumigating the community to prevent the spread of malaria. He pledged the community's support to reduce drastically the population of mosquitoes so that the number of malaria disease would be reduced to lowest web.

Story: Ebenezer Debrah (Reporter & Photographer, Health Digest News)