Ghanaians asked to help keep polio away

The Programmes Manager of Expanded Programmes of Immunisation in Ghana, Dr George Bonsu has advised Ghanaians to continue to immunise their children to help keep away the threat of polio.

“The threat of polio still remains despite the achievement,” Dr Bonsu said, adding, “Polio will continue to threaten children everywhere.”

Speaking at the launch of the African Vaccination and Child Health Promotion Weeks in Accra on Thursday, Dr Bonsu said despite the fact that Ghana is recertified as Polio free since 2008, Polio would continue to threaten children everywhere as long as it exists somewhere and there are pockets of children who are not being reached with vaccinations.

He explained that one in 10 children do not receive the third dose of oral polio vaccine in Ghana while one in five children still do not receive all the basic vaccines they need.

He said the progress in vaccination coverage in recent years had stalled.

The global theme for the 2016 African Vaccination Week is “Close the Immunisation Gap Stay Polio Free”, while the theme for the Child Health Promotion Week is “Good Life Start Right”

The theme for the Vaccination Week draws attention to the need for universal immunisation coverage in the African Region as it celebrate the important polio milestone that hasd been attained, calling on countries to stay vigilant to ensure they stay polio free.

Dr Bonsu said from October 1996 to date, Ghana has conducted 50 vaccination campaigns against polio, and 199,209,068 doses of polio vaccines had been administered to children under five years.

He explained that apart from the provision of clean water, and good hygiene, immunisation against vaccine preventable diseases has saved more lives than any other public health intervention.

Currently the health sector vaccinates against 12 diseases, which prevents about two to three million deaths every year from vaccine preventable disease.

Dr Bonsu urged the governments, partners, health care workers, non-governmental organisations and civil society organisation, parents and other stakeholders to invest time and resources in vaccination.

Mrs Theresa Osei Tutu, Rotary Polio plus Partner said 12 polio cases have been recorded in the world in April this year, with eight cases being recorded in Afghanistan and four in Pakistan.

She said the Club has raised funds to support these affected countries to ensure zero tolerance for polio in the world.

Mrs Tutu said awareness campaigns have been held in the endemic countries to sensitise people on the need to immunise children less than five years to prevent polio forever.

Meanwhile, Dr Edward Antwi, National Child Health Coordinator has noted that the major causes of children under five mortality has been pneumonia, malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and measles.

He explained that various intervention measures being carried out in Ghana to improve child survival included improved antenatal services, infection prevention practices, immunisations, Vitamin A supplementation and exclusive breastfeeding and the use of long lasting insecticide nets.

Dr Antwi said the first five years of a child’s life are the most vulnerable and must be given a good start in life by providing them with services to improve their health hence the service.

He announced that the Ghana Health Service would therefore hold minimum intervention package from May 9 to 13 for free immunisation, Vitamin A supplementation, Growth Promotion, Birth Registration, distribution of child health records and promotion of ITN use.

In a speech read on her behalf, Mrs Lordina Mahama, First Lady urged stakeholders to work together to ensure that all children are immunised against childhood killer diseases.