HLTH 620
SHORT ESSAY
Malaria is a serious endemic problem in all of Africa, especially in Ghana, it is perennial.
Malaria is known to be a deadly disease that kills most of its victims and in Ghana, it has become
one of the leading cause of diseases. There is an estimated of 3.5 million people contracting
malaria every year, with approximately 20,000 children dying from malaria every year.1 25
percent of the 20,000 deaths of children are under the age of five.1 Malaria is treatable and can
very much be prevented. Malaria mortality has declined significantly from 19% in 2010 to 4.2%
in 2016.2
Episcopal Relief & Development is an international development organization that works
with NetsforLife to help Ghana and other places in Africa like Zambia, Angola, Liberia, and
Sierra Leone live malaria free. The background of NetsforLife is a faith-based organization, they
work with other Malaria control programs by raising awareness, educating individuals on the
importance of using Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets for preventing. Most of the insecticidal nets
are effective for a good 5 years and have become affordable for many individuals earning a low-
or middle-income. Since the education of malaria, individuals are more careful and pay attention
to the symptoms if they are experiencing it thus saving the lives of many individuals. Ghana
Health Service (GHS) has partnered with United Nations International Children’s Emergency
Fund (UNICEF) to continue to distribute Insecticidal Nets to children and pregnant women and
educate them on preventing malaria.1
HLTH 620
Reference:
1. Unicef.org. (2018). [online] Available at:
https://www.unicef.org/wcaro/WCARO_Ghana_Factsheet_malaria.pdf [Accessed 16
May 2018].
2. Pmi.gov. (2018). [online] Available at: https://www.pmi.gov/docs/default-source/default-
document-library/malaria-operational-plans/fy-2018/fy-2018-ghana-malaria-operational-
plan.pdf?sfvrsn=5 [Accessed 16 May 2018].
