A two – day stakeholders’ consultative meeting on the Indepth Effectiveness and Safety Studies of Anti – Malarials in Africa (INESS) was held on the 18th - 19th of June 2009 in Accra, Ghana.

The meeting brought together about 50 participants representing various organisations and groups who will be involve in the implementation of the INESS project. Participants included representatives of the Ghana Health Service, Ghana National Malaria Control Programme, Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites in Ghana, pharmacists and local health workers.  Other participants were District Chief Executives of areas involved in the INESS project which include Dodowa, Kintampo and Navrongo. Representatives of the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) were also present at the meeting.

Delivering the opening address at the meeting on behalf of the Director – General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Joseph Amankwah, the Director of Public Health (GHS) said that the need for a system that will follow up on actual health projects on the ground in Ghana has been long overdue. The INESS project, he said is timely and a pacesetter in health systems in Africa. He called on participants to work feverishly towards the success of INESS.

Dr. Constance Bart – Plange, the Programme Manager of the National Malaria Control Programme asked participants and officials involved in the INESS project to endeavor to identify and tackle every issue that will be relevant to the acceptance of INESS in the country.  She also said that the National Malaria Control Programme has been a friend of the Research Community for years and will not relent in offering the needed support to the INESS project.
 

In a solidarity message, the Executive Director of AMMREN, Mrs. Charity Binka pledged AMMREN’s support for the INESS project. She said that Malaria can be eradicated or controlled if all will join the fight against the disease.