By: Gideon Kwame Sarkodie Osei
In her small home in Bono East region of Ghana surrounded by her four children, Nsoh Abena, 44, sleeps under a mosquito net she received from the Ghana Health Services two years ago.
She says, “my net has many holes,” she gestures towards the bedroom in the old, run-down building in Kobeda II in the Kintampo North Municipality where she lives, adding, “All the nets have holes.”
She has just recovered from malaria, which also infected the two-year-old daughter she cares for.She is a farmer and has to pay 150 Ghana Cedis (GHC150) for the medication needed to treat both herself and the child, whose life she feared was at risk.
World Health Organization (WHO) data shows that about 405,000 people died from malaria in 2018, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 94% of these deaths. More than two-thirds of the victims were under fivee. WHO warned in April of 2020 that the number of annual malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa could almost double this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, a level last seen 20 years ago. The spread of COVID-19 has impacted the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets and access to anti-malarial medication, with people wary of going to a doctor.
Aware of the risks, many countries are pushing ahead with campaigns aimed at reducing the numbers. Uganda is planning a nationwide mosquito net distribution program this year, the _rst since 2017, with about 27 million nets to be given out to 43 million people. The distribution teams have started work, kitted out in protective gear and supported by a variety of governmental and NGO groups.
With 3% of global malaria cases and deaths, Ghana is among the 15 highest burden malaria countries in the world. Ghana reported the highest increase in absolute case numbers, (500,000 new cases) from 2017 to 2018, which represents a 5% increase versus 2017 levels (from 213 to 224 per 1000 of the population at risk). In comparison to 2015 levels, cases rose by 3%, from 217 to 224 of the population at risk. Deaths, on the other hand, fell by 12%, from 0.42 to 0.37 per 1000 of the population at risk.
As of January 18, there were more than 58,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases across Ghana this includes 1,924 active cases and 352 deaths, Health Experts and the government fear a second wave of the pandemic is raging and spreading like wildfire.
Immunologist and Research Fellow at the West Africa Centre for Cell Biology and Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Dr Yaw Bediako says the new strain of Covid-19 detected at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has a higher transmissible rate than the previous strain, he said: “They (the new Covid-19 variant) are transmitted from persons to persons easily than the previous variant. The number of people that a single infected person can infect is significantly more.” In several health centers across Ghana, outpatient attendance dropped sharply “and you could see that in two ways,” says Dr. Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, World Health Organization (WHO) Acting Representative for Ghana. “People were afraid to (see) health services thinking that they might actually be in contact with people with COVID-19. So, because of that fear, even people who needed access to health services were too scared to go.”
At Kunsu – also in Kintampo North, 25-year James Yambor, is recovering from malaria. He says, “This time the mosquitoes are too much. We’re contracting malaria every day.”
James says he watch Ghana’s President deliver his 22nd National Update on COVID-19 on Sunday 17th January,2020 and shivered. “Yesterday I almost fainted when the President said he could impose a lockdown again if the cases continue to increase”. He added, “my worry is that, we will all continue to talk about this coronavirus and forget about malaria, meanwhile malaria has killed more people in the last nine months than COVID-19’’.
Even before the outbreak of the COVID-9 epidemic, malaria resulted in 10,000 maternal deaths each year, with 11 million pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa alone in 2018. Malaria in pregnancy accounts for 11 percent of all newborn deaths and 20 percent of all stillbirths.
Chief Abubakar Mahama is the Chief Farmer at Suronuase. He says: “Mosquitos are not in a lockdown, they are still free. Why survive COVID-19 and die of malaria? If by the middle of the year when the rains are in, and at which time malaria and we are not done with Coronavirus, I believe malaria will kill more people because the country will spend more resources fighting it at the expense of malaria.” He asked: “do you think the government will get money and distribute free mosquito nets again?”.
Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are one of the most cost-effective measures for preventing malaria. The World Health Organization recommends both large-scale mass distribution campaigns and continuous distributions (CD) as part of a multifaceted strategy to achieve and sustain universal access to ITNs. A combination of these strategies has been effective for scaling up ITN access.
Have you ever considered about adding a little bit more than just
your articles? I mean, what you say is valuable and all.
But think of if you added some great visuals
or videos to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is
excellent but with pics and videos, this blog could certainly be one of the greatest in its niche.
Fantastic blog!
I like the valuable information you provide in your articles.
I’ll bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly.
I am quite sure I’ll learn lots of new stuff right here!
Good luck for the next!
I am sure this article has touched all the internet visitors,
its really really pleasant paragraph on building up new web site.
You’ve made some really good points there. I checked on the net
for more info about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this website.
Good day! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d
ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing
a blog article or vice-versa? My website discusses a lot of the same subjects as
yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other.
If you happen to be interested feel free to shoot me an email.
I look forward to hearing from you! Fantastic blog by the
way!
Hey there are using WordPress for your blog platform?
I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up
my own. Do you need any html coding expertise to make your own blog?
Any help would be really appreciated!
Outstanding post, I believe website owners should learn a lot from this blog its real user friendly.
As the admin of this site is working, no question very
shortly it will be famous, due to its feature contents.
Marriage is like a besieged castle those who are on the outside wish to get in and those who are on the inside wish to get out.
What i don’t understood is actually how you’re not really much more well-liked than you might be now. You are so intelligent. You realize thus considerably relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from a lot of varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it’s one thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs outstanding. Always maintain it up!
tadalafil 40 mg daily tadalafil pills
tadalafil tablets
buy medication without an rx medications without a doctor’s prescription
pills without a doctor prescription: https://genericwdp.com/ pills without a doctor prescription
If you would like to increase your experience just keep visiting this web site and be updated
with the hottest information posted here.
Whats up this is kind of of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding knowledge so I wanted to get guidance from someone with
experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated! games ps4 allenferguson games ps4
Thankfulness to my father who shared with me regarding this website, this webpage is in fact awesome.
ps4 games allenferguson ps4 games
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, like
you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is
great blog. A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back.
Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative.
I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future.
Many people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
Very soon this web site will be famous among all blogging and site-building visitors,
due to it’s nice posts
For most recent news you have to pay a quick visit the web and on internet I found this site as a
most excellent website for most up-to-date updates.
This design is steller! You obviously know how to keep a reader entertained.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved
to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job.
I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more
than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all people you really know what you’re talking about!
Bookmarked. Kindly also consult with my website =).
We will have a link change contract among us
Hi there, just wanted to say, I loved this blog post. It
was helpful. Keep on posting! 0mniartist asmr
I’m impressed, I must say. Seldom do I encounter a blog that’s both
equally educative and interesting, and let me tell you, you have hit
the nail on the head. The issue is something that not
enough people are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy that I came
across this in my search for something concerning this.
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really
nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back in the future.
Many thanks
Informative article, totally what I wanted to find.
Hey there just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know
a few of the images aren’t loading properly.
I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue.
I’ve tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same outcome.
Now I am ready to do my breakfast, once having my breakfast coming over again to read further news.
I think this is one of the most important information for me.
And i am glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things,
The site style is wonderful, the articles is really great :
D. Good job, cheers
Hello my loved one! I wish to say that this article is amazing,
nice written and come with approximately all significant infos.
I would like to look extra posts like this .
Hello there, I found your site by means of Google even as looking for a related topic, your site came up, it seems good.
I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hi there, just turned into aware of your blog thru Google, and located that it’s truly informative.
I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate in case you continue
this in future. A lot of other people will likely
be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
https://afsgsdsdbfdshdfhdfncvngcjgfjghvghcgvv.com
I was wondering if you ever considered changing the page layout of your blog?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so
people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two images.
Maybe you could space it out better?
It is in point of fact a great and helpful piece of info. I?¦m satisfied that you simply shared this useful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
scoliosis
Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you so much, However I am experiencing issues with your RSS.
I don’t know why I cannot join it. Is there anybody else having the same RSS issues?
Anyone that knows the answer will you kindly respond?
Thanx!! scoliosis
scoliosis
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts.
In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon! scoliosis
dating sites
Hey! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering
which blog platform are you using for this site?
I’m getting tired of WordPress because I’ve had
problems with hackers and I’m looking at options
for another platform. I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
https://785days.tumblr.com/ dating sites
dating sites
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a friend
who was conducting a little homework on this.
And he in fact ordered me breakfast simply because I discovered it for him…
lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!
But yeah, thanks for spending time to discuss this
matter here on your blog. dating sites
I’m amazed, I have to admit. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both equally educative and engaging, and
let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head.
The problem is something which too few people are speaking intelligently about.
I am very happy I stumbled across this during my hunt for something concerning this.
Hello to all, how is all, I think every one is getting more from this web page, and your views
are good in favor of new visitors.
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement
account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from
you! By the way, how could we communicate?
Just want to say your article is as amazing. The clarity for your post is just cool and that i could think you’re knowledgeable on this
subject. Fine together with your permission allow me to clutch your RSS feed to stay updated with drawing close post.
Thank you one million and please carry on the rewarding work.
buy cialis rush buy cialis online at lowest price cialis soft tablet
Howdy, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot
of spam comments? If so how do you reduce it, any plugin or anything
you can advise? I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any assistance is very much appreciated.
I am sure this article has touched all the internet visitors, its really really good article on building up new blog.
My family members all the time say that I am wasting my time here
at net, however I know I am getting familiarity everyday by reading such nice content.
Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the images on this blog loading?
I’m trying to determine if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
What i don’t understood is in fact how you’re now not really
much more smartly-favored than you may be right now.
You are so intelligent. You recognize thus considerably when it
comes to this topic, made me personally consider it from a lot of various angles.
Its like men and women don’t seem to be involved except it’s something to do
with Woman gaga! Your own stuffs excellent.
At all times care for it up!
Why users still use to read news papers when in this
technological globe all is accessible on net?
out from Kingwood Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the fantastic job!
Other then that, fantastic blog!
Other then that, fantastic blog!
viagra without a doctor prescription – buying viagra online price of viagra
Excellent blog you’ve got here.. It’s hard to find
high quality writing like yours nowadays. I seriously appreciate individuals like you!
Take care!!
Woh I enjoy your posts, saved to fav!
My blog post – http://www.1stanapa.ru
Hope is the last to abandon the unhappy.
Hard cases make bad law.
Hurrah, that’s what I was exploring for, what a data!
present here at this web site, thanks admin of
this web page.
Here is my blog mpc-install.com
Really good visual appeal on this website, I’d
rate it 10.
Here is my site :: https://kebe.top/viewtopic.php?id=1941295
If you are going for finest contents like myself, simply visit this web site everyday since it offers quality contents, thanks
Also visit my blog post – QuadAir Drone
What’s up to every body, it’s my first visit of this weblog;
this web site contains remarkable and really good
stuff in support of readers.
Here is my webpage :: anastasiajanel.com
I would like to consider the opportunity of thanking you for that professional guidance I have enjoyed visiting your site.
I’m looking forward to the commencement of my university research and
the general prep would never have been complete without browsing your website.
If I could be of any help to others, I will be pleased to help via what I have gained from here.
Feel free to surf to my blog post: Burst Audio Reviews
I think the admin of this web site is really working hard in favor
of his site, since here every material is quality based material.
Highly descriptive article, I enjoyed that a lot.
Will there be a part 2?
My website – Allura Fresh Review
Aw, this was a really nice post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to generate a really good article…
but what can I say… I hesitate a whole lot and never manage to
get nearly anything done.
My website :: Ice Box Air Conditioner Review
you’re truly a excellent webmaster. The website loading
pace is incredible. It sort of feels that you are doing any unique trick.
Also, The contents are masterwork. you have performed a fantastic job in this matter!
Also visit my homepage: Max Brute Review
Having read this I thought it was extremely enlightening.
I appreciate you finding the time and energy to put this
article together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and posting comments.
But so what, it was still worth it!
Stop by my web blog :: Compoise 360X CBD Review