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  2. Vol 4 Issue 1, 2022
  3. Prescribers of Malaria Case Management Practices in Military Health Facilities in the Western Region of Ghana
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Felix Fiavor

Prescribers of Malaria Case Management Practices in Military Health Facilities in the Western Region of Ghana

Abstract: This research paper aims to examine prescribers' malaria case management practices in military health facilities in the Western Region of Ghana. In order to eradicate malaria from Ghana, treatment of malaria infection is just as important as prevention. Treatment and prevention go hand in hand, and the neglect of one undermines the other, creating a vicious cycle of malaria infection and reinfection. However, malaria infections should reflect the actual situation on the ground to allow for proper planning because that is the albatross hanging on the neck of Ghana because there is general presumptive malaria management among prescribers. To solve the problem of presumptive treatment among prescribers, Ghana 2014 adapted the WHO policy of test, treat, and track policy introduced in 2012. However, there are reports of non-compliance by prescribers with this new policy despite training and provision of logistics. The findings revealed a high testing rate (74.69%) of patients suspected of malaria for confirmation of malaria parasites. Patients of all age groups and genders were referred for malaria testing. The high rate of malaria testing across the facility may indicate the availability of malaria rapid diagnostic tests and reagents for microscopy. According to the study, 21.5% of malaria cases were treated presumptively. The study further recommended that there should be supportive supervision of malaria treatments, with regular visits by the armed forces clinical team to assist prescribers. Training should be organized for new prescribers and refresher training for those trained before by way of workshops organized by facility management. The national health insurance scheme should decouple laboratory services from consultation (bundled) services and pay for a malaria test.