As one million people die from malaria, while 200-300 million more are infected every year, malaria is recognized by both health providers and by the general public as a major global problem which should be high on the list of the priorities of local health officials. Malaria is the most widely diagnosed disease in Ghana, comprising 40% of all outpatient diagnoses, and is among the top five causes of death in Ghanaian children. The problem of self-medication in Ghana has become more acute as a result of the recent introduction of economic structural reforms in the health sector, forcing most patients attending public health facilities to pay for any services and medications, before treatment, establishing the “cash and carry” system. Chloroquine has been utilized as the first-line anti-malarial drug by hospital facilities for decades, but resistance of Plasmodium falciparum is rapidly spreading and in recent years has been evaluated as establishing at least 32% overall resistance in Ghana.

The general objective of this study was to evaluate the availability of anti-malarial drugs and treatment options within the Mampong Health District while exploring the utilization of these health facilities as well as to observe the changes and improvements initiated by the Ministry of Health to combat the malaria endemic. Attempting to lower the occurrence of anti-malarial drug resistant organisms, the Ghana Health Service has recently implemented artesunate as the first-line medication for malaria, partially eliminating the use of chloroquine. However, there has been a 35 fold increase in anti-malarial drug costs at hospitals, further pressing the Ghanaian population to utilize self-medication practices. With decreased new patient attendance at the Mampong District Hospital and increased self-medication practices through pharmacies, traditional healers, and household anti-malaria stockpiles, it is advised that the Ghana Health Service educate the public on the importance of the new drug protocol to reduce chloroquine use. Remaining aware of the ethno-medical and socio-economic realities of rural Ghana, removing chloroquine from pharmacy shelves and funding national scale projects to educate the populace on proper self-medication practices and drug dosages could be the most efficacious method of increasing the quality of life in Ghana.

Life’s challenges are relentless; often unforgiving when distractions, such as illness, deter people from fulfilling their daily responsibilities. The effects of this research upon my academic pursuits were insurmountable. Gaining hands-on medical exposure in the Third World setting increased not only my love for the field of medicine, but further established my desires to serve the global community as a physician. Throughout my medical school interviews the majority of the issues discussed revolved around my experiences in Ghana, aiding in placing me on two medical school alternate lists. I am grateful for the Office of Research and Creative Arts and the Kennedy Center’s contributions to fulfilling my aspirations of celebrating what is right with the world. The generous donations of ORCA contributors helped me realize that medicine is not just about healing the patient, but understanding the individual; thoughts, emotions, and sociology are all part of what it requires to make someone “whole.”