Mr Eric Nana Takyi, the Kadjebi District Director of Health Services, has raised an alarm over a steady increase in malaria cases in the district, calling for urgent collective action to reverse the trend.

Speaking with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Kadjebi in the Oti Region to mark World Malaria Day, Mr Takyi disclosed that malaria remained a major public health concern in the district, despite ongoing interventions.

He said recorded cases rose from 20,834 in 2024, representing 25 per cent of all Out-Patient Department (OPD) visits, to 22,716 cases in 2025, accounting for 33 per cent of 69,122 OPD visits.

“This is alarming. It means one in every three people who visit our health facilities comes because of malaria,” he stated.

Mr Takyi noted that the district’s malaria burden far exceeded Ghana’s national target of 190 cases per 1,000 population, stressing that the disease continued to rank among the top 10 causes of illness in the area.

He expressed concern about the socio-economic impact of malaria, indicating that children miss school, farmers lose productive time, and households incur significant healthcare costs.

Despite interventions such as Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT), insecticide-treated net (ITN) distribution, larviciding, and public education, the situation had not improved as expected.

Under the global theme for this year’s commemoration, “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can, Now We Must,” Mr Takyi urged residents to intensify preventive measures at the household and community levels.

He outlined six key actions for residents: consistent use of insecticide-treated nets, early testing of fever cases within 24 hours at health facilities, completion of prescribed malaria treatment, elimination of stagnant water sources, participation in SMC for children under five, and adherence to IPT protocols by pregnant women.

Mr Takyi also called on community leaders, including parents, traditional authorities, religious leaders, teachers, and assembly members, to champion malaria awareness and prevention efforts.

“We have done the interventions. Now we need your commitment,” he said.

He urged residents to take immediate action to prevent further loss of lives, emphasising that the fight against malaria requires shared responsibility.

“Do not let malaria take another life. Act today,” Mr Takyi appealed.