Basic schools in the Adaklu district were educated on the prevention and control of malaria and COVID-19 aimed at teaching both students and teachers effective ways to prevent conditions that could cause them.

This activity was organized by GOSANET Foundation, a health NGO in collaboration with the Adaklu District Health Directorate with funding from Global Fund under the National Malaria Control Program.

Visited schools in the district received education on the causes, symptoms, and preventive measures of malaria and COVID-19.

Health Promotion Officer of the Adaklu District Health Directorate, Madam Lynda Buatsi who facilitated the program implores students to keep their surroundings clean, sleep under a treated mosquito net as well as wear protective clothing when studying in the open at night in order to avoid mosquito bites.

She mentioned; rise in temperature, body aches, bitterness in the mouth, body weakness, and cold as some common symptoms associated with malaria and urged the students to visit the nearest health center if they see these changes in their body for testing and treatment.

On COVID-19, Madam Buatsi urged students to abide by the safety protocols such as; social distancing, wearing a face mask, and washing of hands with soap under running water to avoid being infected with the COVID-19 virus.

She urged students to patronize the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine meant for children twelve years and above when it is in to get them protected against the COVID-19 virus.

She also charged students to always drink a lot of water to hydrate their body, eat fruits, vegetables to build their immune system in order to fight against diseases.

The District School Health Education Programme (SHEP) coordinator, Madam Creaton Klu explained that children have a role to play in sustaining good practices in protecting the environment and making sure that it is clean.

She appeals to students to properly dispose of waste such as cans and empty containers as they could serve as breeding grounds for disease-causing agents such as the plasmodium parasite which is responsible for causing malaria.

On his part, Executive Director, GOSANET Foundation Mr. Samuel Yao Atidzah said the outreach program is an opportunity to build the capacity of the school children to strengthen their knowledge on malaria prevention and control and COVID-19.

The Director of the Foundation added that his outfit is interested in ensuring that education on malaria and COVID-19 goes down to the grassroots level, especially in communities where it operates.

In all, twelve (12) sensitization activities were conducted, a total of 2,107 school children are now equipped with the requisite knowledge on malaria and COVID-19.