Treatment of malaria in Ghana: summary of present state

Abstract

The primary objective in the control of malaria in most countries in Africa south of the Sahara is the prevention of mortality and reduction of morbidity from malaria. To achieve this demands a situation that allows for prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment of malaria cases and the protection of vulnerable groups. it also calls for the implementation of feasible preventive and control measures based on sound epidemiological data. Through the Primary Health Care System, it should be possible to develop a process through which this objective could be achieved. For such a system to succeed, there will be the need for community commitment to the objective and a well-defined referral system. It also demands that there should be adequate knowledge about the chemotherapeutic agents to be used in treating an episode of acute malaria and the recognition of complications. Treatment therefore is now an important weapon in the control of malaria.