Polio eradication on course in Ghana

Ho (Volta Reigon) 17 Oct. '98 Ghana's polio surveillance system needs to achieve a one per cent rate of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) set by the World Health Organisation (WHO)as a measure for achieving total eradication of polio in the country by the year 2000.

Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) describes a group of diseases that cause paralysis of the limbs of which polio is one.

The ability to identify cases of AFP is a necessary test of the sensitivity of the country's polio surveillance system.

Dr Frank Nyonator, Volta Regional Director of Health Services explained this at a meeting of District Chief Executives, District Directors of Health and the regional polio eradication committee on October 16, as part of preparations towards this year's national immunisation exercise billed for November seven and December 19. Dr Nyonator said Ghana's AFP rate stands at 0.47 per cent and excludes the situation in the Volta, Western and Upper West Regions which have not provided any reports on the situation.

He, therefore, called for the formation of volunteer groups in the communities to help district directors of health to monitor the situation. Dr Nyonator said the major drawback to the polio immunisation exercise in the region so far has been the negative attitude of some religious groups, which needs to be tackled seriously to ensure a total eradication of polio from the region.

Captain George Nfodjo (rtd), Ho district chief executive, who presided suggested that parliament should take up the issue of non-co-operation of some religious groups to the exercise in order to outlaw such negative attitudes. GRi