The US government, through the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), has allocated $6 million (GH¢87 million) for spraying insecticides to eradicate malaria-carrying mosquitoes in households in northern Ghana.
This indoor residual spraying (IRS) initiative aims to significantly reduce malaria incidence in the region.
This year’s campaign covered over 440,000 households across 10 districts in the Northern and North-Eastern regions, protecting over one million Ghanaians, including vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children under five years of age.
“This marks the 17th consecutive year of U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative support for Ghana’s IRS campaign,” noted Dr. David Walton, U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator, who participated in this year’s campaign in Kumbungu District.
“In addition to spraying, we are working with the Government of Ghana to provide mosquito nets, preventive treatment, malaria testing and treatment services, and health workers trained in malaria management,” Dr Walton added.
Since 2008, the United States has contributed more than $460 million (GH¢6.6 billion) to fight malaria in Ghana, leading to a significant drop in infection rates.
Malaria incidence in children under five years of age decreased from 27.5% in 2011 to 8.6% in 2022.
In January 2024, Ghana launched its National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan, which aims to eliminate malaria deaths to near zero by 2030. USAID and PMI fully support this ambitious plan.
As Ghana’s largest development partner, the United States has provided more than $90 million to Ghana’s health sector in 2023, supporting malaria, maternal and child health, HIV, global health security, and more.
Led by USAID and implemented in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PMI continues to play a critical role in fighting malaria in Ghana.
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