The Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Health Directorate in collaboration with Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) has organised a free health screening, cleanup exercise and educational activities to commemorate the World Malaria Day 2025.
The event was held at Akoon, one of the foundation’s host communities and was on the theme: “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite.”
Speaking at the durbar, the Municipal Director of Health Services, Madam Wilhemina Duah, highlighted the continued burden of malaria in Ghana and the urgency to accelerate efforts toward its elimination.
She indicated that despite years of interventions, malaria remained endemic and perennial in Ghana, posing a particularly high risk to children under five and pregnant women.
“It is unacceptable that this preventable and treatable disease still kills a child every minute globally,” Madam Duah emphasised.
She noted that while there have been notable gains, malaria prevalence in Tarkwa Nsuaem, for instance, was rising among the general population – from 19.2% in 2022 to 27.9% in 2024.
She cited Dompim, Simpa, Benso and Nsuaem as hotspot areas within the municipality, while Tarkwa Township had shown relatively lower prevalence, due to its urban environment and improved sanitation.
Madam Duah urged community members to maintain environmental hygiene by draining stagnant water and eliminating mosquito breeding.
She also emphasised the importance of proper use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), adherence to treatment protocols, and antenatal care attendance to protect vulnerable groups.
According to the 2024 WHO World Malaria Report, global malaria cases rose to 263 million in 2023, with 597,000 deaths – most of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Ghana continues to bear a significant burden.
Locally, Tarkwa Nsuaem reported 65,167 malaria cases out of 510,439 OPD attendances in 2024, representing 12.7% of all OPD visits.
Although malaria among pregnant women dropped to 0.1% prevalence, the positivity rate among those tested increased sharply to 38.5%, raising concern over early detection and prevention effectiveness.
She identified challenges such misuse or underuse of ITNs, non-adherence to malaria treatment protocols, inadequate coverage of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) and limited funding for critical interventions like indoor residual spraying (IRS) and the RTS malaria vaccine amongst others.
The Western Region’s Malaria Focal Person, Clement Amankwaah, addressing the gathering revealed a worrying 12.4% increase in malaria cases across the region – from 470,062 cases in 2023 to 528,937 in 2024.
“Tarkwa-Nsuaem ranks 6th among districts with the highest number of malaria cases in the region. The disease continues to top OPD morbidity charts, and this trend must change if we aim to eliminate malaria,” he stated.
Districts with the highest burden include Wassa Amenfi Central, Wassa East, Ellembelle and Shama, with Effia Kwesimintsim, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Ahanta West recording the lowest.
Sandra Deladem Woanyah, Project Manager for GFGF reiterated the Foundation’s commitment to health as a core focus area.
“Over the past 20 years, we have invested heavily in health infrastructure, outreach, and public education,” she said.
To mark World Malaria Day, the foundation organized a community clean-up at Akoon and Borborbo, followed by free health screenings.
“We believe that healthy communities are empowered communities. Malaria is preventable, and with joint effort, we can end it,” she added.
