Get Tested Before You Say Its Malaria-Dr. Bart-Plange

Dr. Constance Bart-Plange speaking to the press after the health walk

The Programmes Manager of National Malaria Control Programme Dr Constance Bart-Plange has advised Ghanaians to desist from taking malaria drugs anytime they are experiencing feverishness and headache and instead go for testing at the hospital to confirn it or otherwise before taking any drug.

According to her, diseases like cold and meningitis as well as pregnancy has similar symptoms and urged Ghanaians to go for testing before concluding that its malaria.

Dr. Bart-Plange who descried the practice said: “This is not the best practice because it is not helping us in our quest to fight malaria infection in the country.”

"If you are experiencing feverishness and headache and you think its malaria you are getting it wrong ;in fact you have drifted from the right path because its not only malaria which has symptoms of feverishness and headache. There are other diseases with the same symptoms,” she noted.

Dr. Bart-Plange gave the advise during a health walk organised by the Ghana Health Service to commemorate World malaria day which falls on 25th April every.

The participants of the health walk held placards some of which read "malaria lowers children's ability to learn", gov't must take good care of the sick" and "test,treat and track" ."

This year's world malaria day is under the theme "End malaria now for good"

Dr. Bart-Plange noted that Ghana had chalked successes in its fight against malaria.

According to her, Ghana had been able to reduce malaria related deaths among children and pregnant women, due to adherence to interventions like sleeping under mosquito treated net, ensuring residual spraying and also desilting of gutters in immediate surroundings.

She was convinced that Ghana would eradidcate malaria disease if Ghanaians adhere to all the interventions being introduced by the National Malaria Control Programme to fisght the disease.

Story By: Michael Creg Afful/affulchebuchef@yahoo.com

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