Malaria Can Affect The Brain - Dr. Bart-Plange

The Manager of the National Malaria Control Programme, Dr (Mrs) Constance Bart-Plange, has said that malaria could affect the brain, if not properly treated. Dr Bart-Plange said malaria could also affect the ability of a child to learn, if not well treated, and appealed to parents and guardians to desist from knocking the head of their children or pulling their ears since it could affect the brains of those children. Dr (Mrs) Bart-Plange was speaking at the formal opening of this year's Malaria Inter- Schools Drama Competition in Koforidua, which was organized as part of activities to mark World Malaria Day celebration in the country. Under the project, through drama, school children learnt the prevention and treatment of malaria and it was expected that as future leaders of society, they could help in the prevention of malaria in the country. This year's competition was organized under the theme "Counting malaria out", and it brought together ten schools, which competed in the drama competition. The Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Rene Boakye- Boaten, said malaria was one of the major causes of absenteeism in schools, since it reduces the contact hours between pupils and teachers. She expressed her pleasure that, school children were participating in the programme to learn how to prevent malaria and help protect themselves against the disease. Mrs Boakye- Boaten was of the hope that the education on malaria, through the drama, would inspire them to learn hard to become medical officers in future.