Measles immunization begins this month

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is to undertake a nationwide immunization exercise for children aged between nine months and 14 years to protect them against measles this month.

Health officials would undertake the exercise in schools, churches and mosques as well as lorry stations.

Madam Salamatu Ibrahim, Nkoranza South Municipal Director of Health Services, announced this at a meeting organised for some selected health personnel from the Municipality at Nkoranza.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Global Alliance Vaccine Initiative (GAVI), both donor agencies, are sponsoring the exercise to prevent infants and children’s death in the country.

Participants at the day’s meeting comprised circuit supervisors of the Ghana Education Service Directorate, assembly members, religious leaders, personnel of the National Commission of Civic Education (NCCE), the media and the management of the Nkoranza South Municipal Assembly.

Madam Ibrahim expressed appreciation to the efforts of the GES in establishing the School Health Education Programme (SHEP) Unit to promote the health needs of children in basic schools.

She said the programme had paved the way for nurses to visit schools to study the health of the pupils, to recommend those with diseases to hospitals for necessary health attention.

Mr Charles Akwasi Gyamfi, Nkoranza South Municipal Disease Control Officer, said malaria was the topmost and prevalent disease that claimed lives in the communities of the municipality.

He stressed the need for nursing mothers to patronize the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to prevent their children against childhood diseases.

Meanwhile, pupils with poor growth and development as well as those with skin diseases, sight or hearing problems had been referred to the health facilities in the area for the necessary attention.