Stanbic Bank in collaboration with United Against Malaria Ghana (UAM) on Friday presented 1,000 pieces of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) worth GH¢ 15,000 to residents of Frafraha in the Adenta Municipality of Greater Accra Region.
The presentation was in commemoration of World Malaria Day scheduled for Monday, April 25.
Mr. Mawuko Afadzinu, Head of Marketing and Public Affairs, Stanbic Bank, said the presentation formed part of the social responsibilities of the corporate entity.
He noted that a child dies from malaria every 30 seconds hence the need for concerted efforts to fight the disease.
Mr. Afadzinu noted that the incidence of malaria affects productivity since patients are often demobilised.
He stressed the need for Ghanaians to practice personal hygiene to reduce the breeding of mosquitoes, the causative agent of malaria.
Mr. Afadzinu pledged management's commitment to continuous education and campaign against malaria, and appealed to other corporate institutions to join in the fight against the disease.
He advised the beneficiaries to use the ITNs to reduce malaria in the community.
Mr. Emmanuel Fiagbenu, Director of UAM, Ghana, stressed the need for more efforts to fight malaria and urged the people to endeavour to facilitate the control of the scourge.
He said available statistics from World Health Organisation indicated that Ghana had an estimated 7.2 million cases of malaria in 2006, out of which 3.9 million occurred among children less than five years.
Mr. Fiagbenu said UAM was determined to create global awareness and renew worldwide commitment to end malaria, as well as increasing the use of preventive tools such as ITNs and malaria treatment in Ghana.
Mrs. Nana Yaa Williams, Technical Officer and Bio-medical Scientist at the National Malaria Control Programme, urged the people to keep their
surroundings clean to avoid the spread of malaria.
She advised them to avoid self medication and report to health facilities for the treatment of the disease.
Mrs. Kakraba Vanlare, Adenta Municipal Chief Executive, in a speech read on her behalf said government was committed to establish health
facilities to serve the people.
Nii Commey Lassey Mensah, Chief of Frafraha, advised the people to utilise the ITNs to remain healthy and pledge the community's support to
fight the disease.