Health personnel drawn from parts of the Brong-Ahafo Region who use microscopy to help detect malaria have received refresher training at the Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC).
The training programme, worth $15,000, was financed by Newmont Gold Ghana Limited (NGGL) to help improve the competence of the microscopists in the diagnosis of the disease, a state from NGGL said.
This is the third time that KHRC has trained microscopists since the establishment of its Malaria Centre of Excellence 2008.
The centre has also trained over 30 microscopists from 10 other African countries.
Microscopy is a science which involves magnifying objects which cannot be seen with the naked eye (in this case the malaria parasite) through the use of a microscope, allowing researchers to see whether the parasite exists and what threat it poses to the patient.
Microscopy remains the most trusted standard for malaria diagnosis in routine care and intervention research.
The statement said the two-week malaria Microscopy training, which ended earlier this month, drew laboratory technologists form the Techiman, Nkoranza and Wenchi hospitals, as well as the Kenyasi and Gyedu Health centres.
It said participants were assessed through written examamination, malaria parasite detection, plasmodium species identification, malaria parasite counting, and malaria parasite picture test.
"Successful participants were presented with certificates at the end of the training."
The statement quoted some participants as saying that the training had been beneficial to them and they promised to share the new insights they had acquired with other colleagues at their respective health posts.
Dr. Kwaku Poku Asante who stood in for the Director of the KHRC, was quoted as saying that his outfit was happy to work with Newmont Ghana in training medical personnel to improve the quality of malaria diagnosis for treatment in the country.
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