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Employ African-led innovation to eliminate malaria — Dep Minister of Health
THE Deputy Minister of Health, Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has called for bold African-led innovation and stronger bilateral partnerships to eliminate malaria.
She made the remarks at a regional workshop organised by Sora Technology in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) in Accra last week. The event was held under the theme: “From Mapping to Action: Tech-enabled LSM for Malaria Elimination.”
The two-day workshop brought together participants from 13 African countries to share experiences and leverage best practices to eliminate malaria in the region. The countries represented were Ghana, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Mali, Benin, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah emphasised the need for Africa to shift from aid dependency to health sovereignty, stating:
“Behind every statistic is a child missing school, a family losing income, and a health worker managing a preventable emergency.”
She highlighted that malaria remains a major global public health threat, claiming 610,000 lives in 2024, with a $5.4 billion annual funding gap for malaria control—only 42 per cent of required resources are currently available. She warned that declining international assistance underscores the urgency for domestic resource mobilisation.
At the national level, Ghana recorded 74 malaria-related deaths in 2024, down from 146 the previous year, surpassing its target of 95 deaths. Since 2012, malaria mortality has declined by 97 per cent. Under the National Malaria Strategic Plan (2024–2028), Ghana aims to reduce malaria deaths by 90 per cent, cut incidence by 50 per cent, and eliminate the disease in 21 districts within Greater Accra.
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, in a speech read on his behalf, described the event as a “transformative moment” in Ghana’s malaria response. Citing the World Health Organization (WHO), he noted that 282 million malaria cases were recorded globally in 2024, with Africa bearing 95 per cent of the burden.
Although investments since 2000 have averted an estimated 2.3 billion cases and 14 million deaths, Dr Akoriyea expressed concern that progress has slowed, with global incidence still far above the 2025 target. He also warned about the detection in 2023 of the invasive Anopheles stephensi mosquito in Accra, cautioning that up to 126 million additional Africans could be at risk if it spreads further.
He emphasised that malaria elimination is not only a public health priority but also an economic imperative, noting estimates from the RBM Partnership to End Malaria that eradicating malaria could boost Africa’s GDP by up to $127 billion.
“This is about our children’s future and our collective capacity to confront shared challenges,” the Service stated.
Central to discussions was the resurgence of Larval Source Management (LSM), now strengthened by drone mapping and artificial intelligence (AI). A pilot project in Kwabirem District, conducted with the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and SORA Technology, showed that drone-assisted mapping identified more than three times the breeding sites found through conventional methods, while AI classification reduced field verification needs by over 50 per cent.
Cost comparisons presented at the forum indicated that LSM could protect individuals at between 24 and 44 cents per person, compared to about $6.70 per person for indoor residual spraying.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, has accepted an apology from the Minority leader in Parliament following allegations of corruption in the recruitment process of the security services.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, he indicated that the accusations were painful because they portrayed his actions in a way that suggested criminal wrongdoing.
“It is painful to be wrongly accused or for your actions to be misconstrued and labelled differently from your intention, especially when it is linked with criminality and serious wrongdoing,” he stated.
Mr Mubarak noted that although he was deeply hurt and worried by the allegations, he had decided to accept the apology wholeheartedly.
According to him, the issue should guide members of the House and public officials to focus on ensuring that the right things are done without attempting to destroy one another.
He assured the Minority that the Interior Ministry and the various security service commanders remain committed to transparency and accountability in their work.
The Minister added that the ministry would be ready to address any concerns raised by the Minority or other members of Parliament regarding recruitment into the security services.
He further appealed to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to consider expunging from the parliamentary records the false comments.
Mr Mubarak expressed appreciation to the Speaker for handling the matter and emphasised the need for cooperation among members of Parliament to ensure fairness and proper oversight.
By: Jacob Aggrey
THE Gospel Advocates (TGA), a non-denominational evangelistic Christian organisation last Saturday donated a number of educational logistics to the Dodi Asantekrom Basic School in the Eastern region of Ghana.
The gesture was to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation made up of professionals committed to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to students in senior high schools, particularly in rural communities.
TGA also seeks to inspire students towards attaining academic excellence and guiding them towards optimising the various learning opportunities and academic programmes available at the tertiary level.
Among the items donated were 100 desks, 10 cupboards, 10 desktop computers, two laptops, 10 teachers’ tables and chairs and others.
The group also held its annual outreach programme that had a significant impact in the community through initiatives such as feeding 500 children with hot meals and assorted drinks, providing free medical screening and drugs for 500 adults and youth and conducting health education and sensitisation for both children and adults.
TGA also took upon itself to restock the community clinic with essential medicines and distributed food items, plastic bowls, cups and clothing to members of the community.
The initiative, according to officials of the group, was supported by ORSAM Limited, Doctors Save Lives Foundation, Johnson Tord Foundation, El-Shaddai Mothercare, Exceed Alliance Limited, GB Foods Ghana Limited, Qualiplast Limited, Phyto-Riker (Gihoc) Pharmaceuticals Limited, Cosa Bright Ghana, Kabs Pharmacy, Tobinco Pharmaceuticals, Pill Bay Pharmacy and Bamah 3.7.7.
“We are deeply grateful for their immense support and partnership in bringing hope, relief, and practical assistance to the people of Dodi Asantekrom,” the officials said.
In a statement, the President and Chairman of The Gospel Advocates, Mr. Selom Kpikpitse, said the donation to Dodi Asantekrom forms part of TGA’s broader mission to propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ among students and youth in rural communities through teachings, music and arts.
He explained that the meals provided to over 500 pupils were in line with the organization’s annual “Feed the Kidz Project,” which demonstrates Christ’s love.
Receiving the items on behalf of the school, the Headmaster, Mr. Otumfour Newton, expressed gratitude to TGA and its sponsors, saying that “the items would significantly enhance teaching and learning while improving the overall welfare and development of the pupils.”
Mr. Newton also commended the team for the free medical screenings for adults and youth in the community, and other community engagements.
Medical supplies were also donated to the Dodi Asantekrom CHPS compound and received on behalf of the facility by Mr. Amefu, a Physician Assistant.
By Spectator Reporter
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