The Amansie South District in the Ashanti region has achieved a remarkable feat by recording no deaths of children under five years due to malaria or malaria-related issues for four consecutive years.
This positive outcome is a result of increased reporting and improved diagnostic capabilities supported by units like the Asanko Gold Mine Health Support.
Although the district saw an increase in malaria cases in 2023, with 2,693 cases compared to 2,282 cases in 2022, the proportion of malaria cases within the OPD decreased by 3.42% during this period. This indicates a significant improvement in reporting and intervention by stakeholders, including Asanko Mines and the district health directorate.
Dr. Fosu Kwabi, the District Health Director, emphasized the importance of addressing health inequalities and ensuring equal access to malaria prevention, diagnostic, and treatment services for all individuals. He commended the efforts of district health centers, partners, and sponsors, particularly highlighting the instrumental role of Asanko Gold Mine in the fight against malaria.
Asanko Gold Mine has been actively working to reduce the malaria burden, especially among vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, children under five, and those living in remote areas. To commemorate World Malaria Day 2024, residents of Manso Keniago received free malaria and essential health screenings from the medical team of Asanko Gold Mine.
The theme for the World Malaria Day celebration in Ghana, “Health equity, cornerstone for achieving malaria elimination,” highlights the importance of equitable access to healthcare services in malaria elimination efforts. Dr. Daniel Osei Twumasi, the Manager for Environment and Sustainability at Asanko Gold Mine, emphasized the need for collective efforts to sustain the fight against malaria and reiterated the company’s commitment to eradicating malaria.
Through partnerships with organizations like GIZ, Asanko Gold Mine has implemented various projects to address communicable and non-communicable diseases in the Amansie South and West districts as part of its corporate social responsibility. The Malaria Day event at Manso Abore provided free consultations, diagnoses, and treatments to 600 residents, with 1,500 community members also supported to join the National Health Insurance Scheme by the end of the first quarter of 2024.
Mary Bonsu, a Technical Advisor at GIZ in Ghana, praised the collaborative efforts to supply essential medical supplies and support vulnerable groups, noting the positive impacts of strong partnerships in various catchment areas. Overall, the health screenings and interventions facilitated by Asanko Gold Mine and its partners have been well-received by the community, demonstrating the importance of collective action in combatting malaria and improving healthcare outcomes.
