GHS Reaffirms Safety Of Malaria Prevention Interventions.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has reaffirmed that its malaria prevention tools are safe and effective, as it rolls out a School-Based Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) Distribution programme and the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, SMC, Campaign.
At a press briefing, Director-General of the GHS, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, described the school-based ITN distribution as a “deliberate, evidence-based strategy” to ensure every primary school child has access to an insecticide-treated net.
He said schools provide a structured, reliable, and equitable platform to reach children nationwide, while also increasing household ownership of nets and extending protection to entire families.
Dr Akoriyea further announced that the 2026 SMC campaign is currently being implemented in the Upper East, Upper West, North East, Northern, Savannah, Bono East, and Oti Regions.
The campaign targets children aged 3 to 59 months during the peak malaria season and has been strengthened through digital registration on the Ghana Malaria Information System (GMIS) enhanced supervision, improved safety monitoring, and door-to-door administration by trained community volunteers.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Madam Theresa Oppong said protecting learners against malaria is fundamental to quality education, as the disease remains a leading cause of school absenteeism and poor academic performance.
She added that teachers will continue to integrate malaria prevention messages into health education to empower learners to advocate for healthy living at home and in their communities.
Addressing public concerns, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) representative, Dr Victor Ofori-Antwi, stated that the ITN has been registered by the FDA since 2008 and has been safely used over the years.
He noted that the product has also received WHO acceptance after undergoing all required evaluations to ensure its safety, quality, and effectiveness.
He urged the public to use the nets strictly according to the instructions on the packaging and called on teachers and head teachers to reassure parents and pupils that the nets are safe and meet internationally accepted standards.
Director of the Public Health Division, Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, said integrating school-based ITN distribution with the nationwide SMC campaign will strengthen malaria prevention ahead of the rainy season.
He urged parents and guardians to ensure their children sleep under the treated nets every night and to air newly received nets in a shaded area for 48 hours before use.
Health authorities at the briefing stressed that ITNs and the SMC programme are scientifically proven to protect lives, and called on Ghanaians to rely on verified information from the GHS and regulatory bodies in the push toward a malaria-free Ghana.
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