GHANA
 According to Ghana’s Ministry of Health and National Malaria Control Program, more than 2.8 million cases of malaria were reported in 2002, with 966,923 of those occurring in children under 5 years old. Malaria is responsible for 44% of outpatient clinical visits in Ghana, and one in five deaths is from malaria among children under 5 years old in Ghana. The disease is a nationwide problem.
In Ghana, the Voices Project aims to:
- Mobilize leadership in government and civil society to be seriously involved in and supportive of all programs directed at malaria control in Ghana
- Enhance district-level advocacy by encouraging all District-level leaders — including district political authorities, chiefs and queen Mothers, religious leaders, health authorities and District Assembly Members — to become advocates and active implementers of malaria control activities
- Improve policy dissemination and reduce barriers to policy implementation, especially those dealing with anti-malarials, ITNs, and environmental management
- Advocate for increased funding for malaria both in the public and private sectors in Ghana and from international donors
Activities to Date
Most recently the team helped prepare for the February 2008 visit from US President George W. Bush as part of his Presidential Malaria Initiative country tour. The team, in partnership with the National Malaria Control Program, is also gearing up for a national launch of malaria media materials on March 12, 2008. The Ghanaian Minister of Health will speak at the launch, highlighting current Ghana’s current funding levels for malaria control and the resource gaps that remain.
Other activities include:
- The development of TV Spots targeting Ghanaian leaders and health providers, encouraging them to use their power to fight malaria.
- Development of a malaria resource map highlighting malaria funds and resource needs by district.
- Three key print materials: the Ghana Malaria Advocacy Guide, the Guide to the use of One Percent District Assembly Common Fund for Malaria and the Nine Steps District Malaria Advocacy Model to be used by Voices leaders at national and district levels.
- Formation and training of 6 District-level Malaria Advocacy Teams (DMATs) that include district political authorities, chiefs and queen Mothers, religious leaders, health authorities and District Assembly Members engaged as advocates and active implementers of malaria control activities.
- Training of the DMATs in the use of malaria advocacy guides and in the practice of monitoring AS + AQ treatment stock with local district prescribers to ensure the avoidance of stock outs and/or continued prescription of monotherapies still in the system.
- Ongoing collaboration with electronic and print media to support the use of AS + AQ as a first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria.
- Preparation for formation of an NGO coalition focused on community-level malaria control programs through the distribution of questionnaires assessing coalition interest and needs.
- Presentation of materials and activities to date to 30 members of the national Roll Back Malaria committee.
- Ongoing production of Ghana Malaria Action Alert publications, two-page bulletins on topics of interest related to malaria.
Current Activities
- 4 TV Spots/documentaries broadcast on national TV for 3 months; 4 Radio Spots broadcast on community/district–based radio stations.
- Vocal leaders appear on 6 mass media programs and 8 district level events
- Develop New Malaria Drug Policy education program and develop/disseminate IRS implementation guidelines.
- Assessment to track progress towards full funding of Abuja declaration commitments.
- Advocacy messages and materials workshop
Success Stories
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