Today marks World Malaria Day, observed under the theme “Malaria ends with us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite.” The day highlights the global effort to eliminate malaria and the need to protect vulnerable communities through sustained prevention and treatment.
Chorkor, a vibrant coastal community known for its fishing, is no stranger to the dangers of malaria. With stagnant water from fishing activities and poor drainage systems, it becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes—the primary carriers of the malaria parasite.
Ghana has made significant progress in controlling malaria. Statistics from the Ghana Health Service indicate that the National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan (NMEP) aims for a 90% reduction in malaria mortality and a 50% reduction in malaria case incidence by 2028. The NMEP also targets malaria elimination in 21 districts with a very low malaria burden by 2028.
Speaking with the Assembly Member for the area, Theophilus Quaye, he mentioned that malaria in the community is largely due to poor sanitation.
“We all know that malaria kills more than hundred thousand people in a year, and therefore it is one of the dangerous sickness worldwide. This is caused by mosquitoes and then, the breeding of these mosquitoes comes as a result of poor sanitation and stagnant waters practices within electoral areas. So as the Assemblyman, I practice good sanitation by mobilizing the people in this community, especially the Youth on a monthly basis cleaning and clearing of choked gutters in the area. Again, there is a need to educate the public about good sanitation practices in our homes, streets and workplaces,” he shared
Residents admit that some of the causes are self-inflicted—from poor sanitation practices to the indiscriminate dumping of waste in open gutters. Speaking with ABC News, Philip Nortey, a resident from the community, shared his thoughts.
“Chorkor here, as we all know, our drainage system is very bad. You will notice that, every roadside, has a choked gutter filled with filth. I will urge the assembly member of this community, to organize the youth for us all to distill the gutters from curbing the malaria parasite from entering into our communities. Again, I call on the Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma South constituency to come in and educate the people here in Chorkor, especially the youth, on how to sleep under a well treated mosquito net to flee from this mosquito disease,” he called.
In 2022, Ghana recorded a malaria prevalence rate of 8.6% among children aged 6 to 59 months, according to the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). This marks a significant decline from 27.5% in 2011. Additionally, reported malaria cases dropped from 5.8 million in 2021 to 5.2 million in 2022. The number of deaths due to malaria also decreased, with 151 reported in 2022, compared to 2,799 in 2012.
The Assemblyman called on government to take urgent action to support the people of Chorkor.
“We have a role to play when it comes to prevention. The government has a role to play, the international body also has a role to play. Just two weeks ago, we met with the Metro Health Directorate to see how best the government can collaborate with an external donor by coming into our community to register households for them to be given mosquito nets,” he pleaded.
As the world renews its pledge to end malaria, communities like Chorkor remind us that progress depends on action—both local and national. Until then, the fight continues.
Andy Oppong Dankyi.
