More on malaria in Ghana

We continue to shine a spotlight on malaria. It is the leading cause of morbidity in Ghana and  malaria prevention efforts must continue despite the current global crises. On World Malaria Day, the WHO urged sub-Saharan African countries to minimize disruptions to malaria prevention and treatment programmes. 

Today we look at some additional statistics on malaria from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) Facts and Figures 2018 report.

First quarter malaria statistics

The Ghana Health Service provided some sobering 2020 first quarter numbers on malaria morbidity and mortality in Ghana highlighting again the importance of malaria prevention and treatment efforts.

According to the statistics: 1,000,000 people tested positive for malaria in the first quarter out of which 21,201 were children under five years and 28,764 were pregnant women. At least 54 deaths from malaria have been recorded with 16 of the deaths among children under five years.

World Malaria Day

As the world commemorates World Malaria Day in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, malaria which continues to be a leading cause of morbidity in the region. Malaria is included as one of the sub-targets under SDG 3: 3.3 By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.

CeDHA fellow Dr. Ayaga Bawah co-authored an important paper looking at the impact of malaria on life expectancy: How many years of life could be saved if malaria were eliminated from a hyperendemic area of northern Ghana? Today he shares some thoughts on the implications of that research here.