Pursuing the zero malaria agenda for the nation, the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, with the support of partners, presented the National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan (NMESP) 2024–2028. Under the theme “Zero Malaria Starts Now: Embarking on Ghana’s Path to Elimination”, the four-year plan not only outlines the achievements so far, but also highlights the interventions that need to be integrated with the ongoing efforts to realize a malaria-free Ghana. In a speech read on behalf of A.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo by Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, the Presidential Adviser on Health, highlighted the issue as a call to strengthen the ongoing national efforts for a malaria-free country by mobilizing comprehensive support and resources despite prevailing challenges. Dr. Nsiah-Asare urged collective action to highlight malaria in the health and development agenda, expressing optimism of what could be achieved through direct collaboration. He reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to the eradication of malaria in Ghana. Emphasizing the importance of private partnerships alongside government support, he underlined their critical role in realizing the goal of eliminating malaria and strengthening health systems.
Dr. Nsiah-Asare highlighted the difficulty, if not the impossibility, of achieving goals and objectives without adequate resources. He commended the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health for the birth of the Parliamentary Malaria Group, acknowledging its strong support which resulted in a commitment to 2 of the 18 districts designated for indoor residual spraying. He appealed, especially to domestic partners, to invest in vector control interventions in high-burden areas, pledging to lead the advocacy for resources in the remaining areas.
During his speech, the Hon. Kwaku Agyemang Manu, Minister of Health, emphasized that the NMESP 2024–2028 for Ghana remains the main document guiding efforts to eliminate malaria. He emphasized his role in leading the way to a malaria-free Ghana, portraying the document as a powerful statement of intent, a call for unity for collective action and a commitment to a healthier future for generations. The minister asked for the support of all stakeholders for the implementation of the strategy and expressed his gratitude for their participation in the launch event.The WHO Multi-Country Delegate for Ghana, Liberia, Gambia and Sierra Leone, Dr. Sharmila Lareef, speaking on behalf of Professor Francis Kasolo, WHO country representative, commended Ghana’s efforts to eradicate malaria, making significant progress in the fight against malaria over the years. Dr Lareef said WHO has developed manuals and self-assessment tools to help countries assess their readiness to begin malaria elimination.
“I am happy to report that Ghana has already undertaken the Malaria Elimination Self-Assessment. The findings, combined with the review of the program, have informed this inaugural eradication strategy launched today,” he stressed.
He further highlighted WHO’s support to Ghana in conducting malaria risk and epidemiological stratification at both national and sub-national levels. This process, he said, will help define the disease burden in each zone of the country and inform the interventions needed to ease the burden and move the nation toward elimination. He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to the elimination strategy, emphasizing continued technical assistance to help Ghana achieve its malaria elimination goals and targets.
The Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, argued in his statement that the reduction in malaria morbidity and mortality in recent years provides confidence in the effectiveness of interventions and instills hope for eradication through enhanced and sustained efforts. He announced the government’s intention to establish two committees to advance the elimination agenda: the Independent National Malaria Oversight Committee (INMOC) and the National Malaria Elimination Technical Coordinating Committee (NMETCC). The former’s mandate is to oversee and provide strategic direction for the elimination of malaria in Ghana through a coordinated and comprehensive national approach. The committee will handle leadership, governance, resource mobilization and advocacy. The latter will provide advisory and technical support to the oversight committee, including the adaptation of WHO guidelines and policies for the country. Both committees will consist of members from the private sector, relevant agencies, partners, religious and traditional organizations. Dr. Kuma-Aboagye concluded by highlighting the financial burden of malaria on households, the health system and the national economy. He expressed the government’s desire that the committees work diligently to support the Ghana Health Service and partners in eradicating the disease.
In her presentation on the New Malaria Elimination Strategy, Dr. Keziah Malm, Program Manager of the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), provided an overview of the prevalence of malaria in the country. He highlighted the success of some countries in eliminating malaria and explained the evolution of the program after the parliamentary approval of the transition from malaria control to elimination. Dr. Malm outlined the primary goals of the strategic plan he launched, which aims to reduce malaria mortality by 90% by 2028, reduce malaria cases by 50% by the same year and eliminate malaria in 21 areas with very low malaria . weights.
Key interventions outlined in the strategic plan include expanding coverage of indoor residual spraying, expanding the age range and duration of the seasonal malaria chemoprevention campaign, introducing Intermittent Malaria Preventive Treatment in school-aged children (IPTsc) , the implementation of mass drug administration, single low-dose primaquine administration, and enhanced epidemiological surveillance for both reactive and active case detection and response, among other measures. Malaria elimination is the cessation of local transmission within a geographic area due to deliberate activities put in place and ongoing measures to prevent reintroduction.
SOURCE: PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT