Photo: Georgina Goodawin /Vestergaard Frandsen

Long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets.

Health workers across the country have concluded a three- day annual internal review of the implementation of malaria related activities during the last implementation year.

The national malaria review program, organized by the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) was held at the C. H. Rennie Hospital in Kakata, Margibi County.

The NMCP is the technical arm of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare that advises the Ministry on measures aimed at reducing malaria morbidity and mortality in the country.

County health officers, representatives of donor health organizations and employees of the NMCP attended the program which ended last Friday.

Assistant Health Minister for Curative Services Dr. Saye Dahn Bawoo said the review took into account progress made on the implementation of NMCP activities covering July 2011-June 2012, with emphasis on Malaria Case Management, Malaria in Pregnancy, Integrated Community Case Management of Malaria, Private Sector ACTs, Integrated Vector Management (IVM), Supply Chain and Program Management and Coordination.

At the end of the three day event, participants agreed to explore the possibility of instituting the measure based on identifiable thematic areas with the aim of addressing the challenges experienced during the period under review and with the hope of improving malaria indicators in the coming year.

The participants also agreed that challenges and constraints identified and addressed during the review process would be internalized and tackled at the various levels which include central, county and at the health facility levels.

County Health Teams at the forum also resolved to improve malaria indicators within the county and take responsibilities in helping to ensure that national targets are met.

"It is hoped that as challenges will be addressed, there will be improvement in malaria case management, supervision, malaria diagnosis and treatment, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, data collection and reporting," the health workers said in a resolution at the end of the review.

National Malaria Control Program Director Dr. Joel Jones lauded participants for their contributions during the program.