A Physician Assistant in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality, Ernestina Adakabla, has called for intensified efforts to protect pregnant women and children from malaria, warning that the two groups remain the most vulnerable to severe illness and complications arising from the disease.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Thursday, July 23, Adakabla said although malaria can affect anyone, children under five years and pregnant women are at a significantly higher risk because of their relatively weaker immune systems.
“Everyone is at risk of getting malaria, but children under five and pregnant women are among the most vulnerable,” she said.
She explained that many malaria cases recur because some patients discontinue their medication as soon as they begin to feel better instead of completing the prescribed treatment.
According to her, failing to complete the full course of antimalarial medication allows the Plasmodium parasite to remain in the body, increasing the risk of persistent or recurrent infection.
“When you take the full course of malaria treatment, it helps eradicate the Plasmodium parasite completely from the body,” Adakabla stated.
She also encouraged families to make sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets a daily habit, particularly during the rainy season when mosquito breeding is at its peak.
Adakabla noted that relying solely on mosquito sprays or coils without using treated mosquito nets leaves families, especially children, vulnerable to mosquito bites.
She further urged anyone experiencing symptoms of malaria to report to the nearest health facility for testing and appropriate treatment rather than self-diagnosing or relying on leftover medication.
Adakabla stressed that early diagnosis, adherence to treatment, and consistent use of preventive measures remain essential to reducing the burden of malaria in Ghana.
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