Expert opinion

	03.12.06 Victoria Panova G8 research group, University of Toronto, Director for Russia
	03.12.06 Mona Bricke German NGO Forum Environment and Development
	03.12.06 Nigel Martin Montreal International Rorum (FIM)
	02.12.06 John Kirton Head of G8 Research Group, University of Toronto
	02.12.06 Regina Gunter Head of the WWF Germany

News

NGO Introduces an Affordable Approach to Fighting Malaria

By Osman Dawda
Accra

Malaria is a topmost killer disease in Ghana and the case is no different in the Northern region. Various forms of treatments including expensive ones are being applied to stem the surge, yet malaria continues to bring misery to children and families. In view of this, a non-governmental organization in the northern region, Tuma Kavi has adopted affordable precautionary measures to sensitize parents and school pupils on the importance of environmental and personal hygiene in relation to malaria.

Yong is a community in the Savelugu-Nanton district of the Northern region, which the NGO Tuma Kavi has adopted to fight malaria, a number one killer disease in the district. The NGO uses a practical two-way precautionary approach to fight the disease namely 'soak away' and sensitizing school pupils on the importance of environmental and personal hygiene. In this regard, parents are sensitized and helped to construct 'soak-aways'.

With this technique, trenches are dug and filled with stones at the rear of the resident's bath houses in order to contain the running water that breeds mosquitoes. Also, school children are educated on the importance of sanitation through games. This makes the programme entertaining and educative and therefore easy to assimilate.

According to the Programme Co-ordinator, Shanen O'Brien, since the institution of the soak-away programme in the community a couple of years ago, there has been a substantial decrease in the spread of not only malaria, but also other environmental-related diseases. She expressed the NGO's belief that the new catch-them-young approach will be even more effective in addressing the situation and would instill in the pupil, environmental discipline.

Expert opinion

	02.12.06 Halter Marek Le College de France
	02.12.06 Olivier Giscard d’Estaing COPAM, France
	02.12.06 Mika Ohbayashi Institute for Sustainable Energy Poliсy
	02.12.06 Bill Pace World Federalist Movement - Institute for Global Policy
	01.12.06 Peter I. Hajnal Toronto University, G8 Research Group