BY Nadia Ntiamoah
As part of Ghana’s ongoing efforts to curb malaria among children under five, the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign in the Upper West Region is entering its final phase.
The exercise, which took over the weekend is a major public health initiative spearheaded by the Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service, with support from district health directorates, community health workers, and local volunteers.
Its goal is to ensure that children aged 3 months to 59 months receive a full dose of anti-malaria medication to protect them during the peak malaria transmission season.
Door-to-Door Strategy to Reach Every Child
Health workers and community volunteers have been conducting house-to-house visits, a method proven effective in reaching even the most remote areas.
This approach is designed to remove the barriers of distance, transport costs, or awareness that might prevent caregivers from seeking preventive treatment for their children.
According to health officials, field supervision has also been intensified, with district-level supervisors actively monitoring the campaign’s progress to ensure strict compliance with dosage guidelines and proper record-keeping.
Community Response and Acknowledgment
The campaign has received strong support from local communities, with many caregivers willingly making their children available for the treatment.
However, health officials continue to appeal to those yet to participate to do so before the deadline.
Public health advocates are also using social media and local information centres to amplify the message, urging caregivers to cooperate and stressing the urgency of the campaign’s timeline.
Health Workers Commended Amid Challenges
Despite logistical difficulties such as poor road conditions and weather-related delays, health workers and volunteers have remained resilient.
Their dedication has been praised by the Ghana Health Service and local leaders.
A Fight Against a Preventable Killer
Malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness and death among children in Ghana, particularly in the northern regions where seasonal rains create breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
The SMC campaign is part of a broader strategy to reduce malaria mortality and achieve long-term public health targets.
According to the World Health Organization, Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention has been shown to reduce malaria cases in young children by as much as 75% when administered consistently during the high transmission period.
