The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is to train people in communities within the Ashanti region to act as first point of call for malaria treatment. Under the scheme, one person will be trained as a community-based agent within a beneficiary community to manage and treat malaria incidents. Deputy Director of the Ashanti GHS, Dr Joseph Oduro, says the measure is part of efforts to tackle malaria incidents from the onset to prevent degeneration into life threatening cases. Speaking to Luv News at the final dissemination meeting for stakeholders of the Mobilize Against Malaria project in Kumasi, Dr Oduro said individuals selected will be given the requisite logistics such as bicycles, wellington boots, malarial control drugs and training. Community based agents from two hundred out of a targeted three thousand communities have so far been trained. The Mobilize Against Malaria project, funded by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer seeks to reduce malaria related morbidity and mortality by improving malaria symptom recognition, treatment and referral. The project which began in 2008 will come to an end in September 2011. It engaged local partners to educate licensed chemical sellers, the major source of medicine in rural Ghana, on malaria symptom recognition and treatment approaches. The project also involves community mobilization to educate patients, with a focus on high risk population of pregnant women and children under five. Project Director, Dr Henry Nagai, noted significant gains have been made in creating awareness about malaria within communities in Ashanti region. According to him, the engagement of local licensed chemical sellers especially, have strengthened health service delivery due to their direct contact with the people. He believes the programme at the end of its five year schedule will significantly reduce the incidents of malaria in the region. Pfizer Associate Director of Public Affairs and Communication for Ghana, Nigeria and East Africa, Margaret Olele pledged the pharmaceutical giant’s commitment to the eradication of malaria in Africa. She said the world’s largest pharmaceutical company has exhibited this commitment by donating $15 million towards the Mobilize Against Malaria project over the past five years. Mrs Olele noted Pfizer will continue to conduct research into finding effective malaria drugs to eradicate the disease.