GOSANET Foundation reach out to a total of 7,445 community members in Adaklu

Malaria infection during pregnancy can have adverse effects on both mother and fetus, including maternal anemia, premature delivery, fetal loss, and delivery of low birth-weight babies. It is against this background that GOSANET Foundation, a health-oriented non-Governmental Organization, in collaboration with the Adaklu District Health Directorate with support from Global Fund organized two days refresher workshop for Community Based Advocates (CBAs), stakeholders and opinion leaders on malaria prevention and control.

 The main objective of the training workshop was to build the capacity of CBAs and opinion leaders on malaria intervention strategies to be able to raise awareness among the general populace on malaria prevention and control strategies

Held at Adaklu Goefe E.P Church, the refresher workshop also seeks to increase the knowledge on malaria prevention strategies among pregnant women and mothers/caregivers of children below the age of 5 years as well as promote the uptake of Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) drugs among pregnant women.

Adaklu District Health Promotion Officer, Madam Linda Buatsi who took CBAs through the training reminded them to conduct house-to-house sensitization in all 18 communities on malaria control interventions.

She added that as part of the project activities it is also their responsibility to identify pregnant women, conduct monthly follow-ups to sensitize them so as to improve IPTp uptake.

Madam Buatsi reiterated the need for CBAs to keep accurate records, be up-and-doing in their various communities because their activities would be monitored and evaluated.

Presenting the 2019 activity report, the Executive Director of Gosanet Foundation, Mr. Samuel Yao Atidzah, said a total of 1,380 community members were directly reached with first-hand information on malaria prevention and control measures/practices using the community durbars.

Mr. Atidzah added that Community Based Advocates also carried out house-to-house sensitization in 18 project communities where they reached out to a total of 7,445 community members with education on malaria prevention, causes, symptoms, preventive measures and its treatment.

He used the opportunity and appeal to community members present to always keep their surroundings clean and ensure that there are no stagnant waters to serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

He further advises pregnant women to avoid exposing themselves to mosquito bites as well as to consistently take their IPTp drug to prevent any unforeseen malaria cases.

In his address, District Health Director, Mr. Charles Kofi Azagba applauded GOSANET Foundation for the good job their doing in the Adaklu District and pledged his outfit’s readiness to support the malaria program so that the objectives of the activity would be achieved.

He said, until now, some sections of the public still do not believe COVID-19 is real, but the reverse is the case because a lot of people have died through COVID-19, and people are dying.

He used the opportunity and urged participants at the workshop to strictly observe the COVID-19 protocols to avoid infection and further spread.