The Regional Health Office in Bansang last Monday began a series of training for Traditional Communicators in nine circuits in Central River Region south on the signs and symptoms of malaria, its prevention and control measures.

The training sponsored by Global Fund through the National Malaria Control Programme office targeted over three hundred and sixty traditional communicators within the nine circuits in CRR south.

Welcoming particiapnts at the start of the training, Karamba F Keita, regional health officer in CRR, deliberated on the importance of the training, noting that traditional communicators play a vital role in community sensitisation. He stated that the traditional communicators present their messages to the public through dramas and songs.
 
Mr Keita added that out traditional communicators are trained to concentrate on activities that enforce the importance of environmental sanitation and how to recognise signs and symptoms of malaria so that cases are reported for early treatment.

Amadou Kanteh, a facilitator said during the training, participants will be sensitised on the benefits of early treatment and the dangers of late treatment, the need for rational use of anti-malaria drugs so as to prevent wide spread resistance and to encourage people to use insecticide treated bednets.

According to Musa Camara, another facilitator, if traditional communicators are well equiped with the skills and knowledge on the signs and symptoms of malaria prevention and control, it will help in increasing the level of awareness  in the community and help to reduce malaria mortality.