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🇬🇭 Ghana /Health & Science

Ghana to end free malaria spraying in 26 districts by 2027 due to funding cuts

From Ghanaian Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Free indoor residual spraying (IRS) to control malaria will end in 26 Ghanaian districts by 2027 due to funding cuts.
  • Affected districts will transition to insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), raising concerns about adapting without a malaria surge.
  • Civil society organizations are urged to increase advocacy for malaria control as donor funding declines and domestic resources become crucial.

Twenty-six districts in Ghana that have received free indoor residual spraying (IRS) for malaria control since 2015 will lose this intervention from 2027. Funding constraints are forcing the shift, leaving these areas to rely solely on insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) for prevention.

You don’t hear anything about malaria.

— Dr. Cecilia SenooDr. Senoo expressed concern that malaria receives less public attention compared to other diseases.

Mr. Ken Yeboah, Oversight Officer of the Global Fund's Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), announced the change at a stakeholders' meeting in Accra. Ten districts in the Northern and North East Regions, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and 16 districts in the Upper West, Upper East, and Ashanti Regions, supported by the Global Fund, will be affected. The final spraying exercise for this year in these districts concluded in June.

With USAID resources now channelled directly to government, and with limited Global Fund allocations, the country must increasingly rely on domestic resources.

— Dr. Cecilia SenooDr. Senoo explained the shift towards domestic funding for malaria control efforts.

The primary challenge is ensuring a smooth transition to ITNs without a subsequent increase in malaria cases. Dr. Cecilia Senoo, Founder and Executive Director of Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), emphasized the need for civil society organizations (CSOs) to intensify their advocacy for malaria control. She expressed concern that malaria, a significant cause of child mortality, receives less public attention than HIV and tuberculosis.

Malaria is rising because of the funding cuts. The country has to take charge.

— Dr. Cecilia SenooDr. Senoo emphasized the urgency for Ghana to take ownership of its malaria control programs.

Dr. Senoo highlighted that with USAID resources now channeled directly to the government and limited Global Fund allocations, Ghana must increasingly depend on domestic resources. She stated, "Malaria is rising because of the funding cuts. The country has to take charge." She also called on CSOs to fulfill their watchdog role more effectively, advocating for vulnerable populations like pregnant women and children, even amidst declining donor funding and the need for transparency and accountability in funding decisions.

Our role as CSOs is to play our watchdog role. Unfortunately, we are not doing it.

— Dr. Cecilia SenooDr. Senoo criticized the lack of effective advocacy from civil society organizations regarding malaria.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ghanaian Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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