‘Total’ Fights against Malaria

Total Sierra Leone the only international petroleum company in the country has joined the fight to roll back Malaria through preventive measures. On April 25, 2009, the company embarked on massive awareness raising program at Brookfield’s to observe World Malaria Day in Sierra Leone.
The awareness raising program attracted school children, health workers, the media and the general public. The Managing Director of Total Sierra Leone Ernest Gotosa said “we are joining development partners to fight against Malaria because millions of children and adults are dying as a result of Malaria parasites”.
The Managing Director also advised that it is proper to use bed nets and insect repellant before sleeping, noting that people should always clear stagnant water close to their premises to stop the influx of mosquitoes around communities.
He intimated that Total Sierra Leone is closely working with development partners and communities to spread Malaria messages so that the people can understand the dangers of malaria and implement preventive measures to stop the spread of the parasite.
Aminata Kobe a representative from the World Health Organization Country office in Sierra Leone read the message of the WHO Regional Director for Africa on the occasion of World Malaria Day on the theme “Counting Malaria Out” and for the WHO African Region slogan “Moving to Universal Access”
She concluded her message by urging participants of the ceremony to always sleep under a bed net and report all malaria related cases to health centers.
A renowned physician Dr. Arnold Aubee properly explained about Malaria Parasites signs and symptoms adding that mosquitoes normally live in shallow pools. He also clarified that Sekou Toure leaves cannot in anyway cure malaria because it has not been proved by health experts, adding that Chloroquine prescriptions do not work in Malaria cases and urged participants to always visit primary health care centers because there are free drugs.
Alimamy Kamara of Total Sierra Leone demonstrated a malaria game while the wife of the Managing Director of Total Mrs. Gotosa distributed the malaria games to participants of the ceremony which formed a high point of the World Malaria Day.