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Tema Municipal Health Directorate targets 162,000 children for

Wed, 1 Nov 2006 Source: GNA

immunization

Tema, Nov. 01, GNA - The Tema Municipal Directorate of Health Services expects to immunize more than 162,000 children under the National Immunization exercise which started off nationwide on Wednesday.

Out of the figure, 137,000 children between the ages of nine months and five years are to be immunized against measles whiles 129 children between six months and five years would receive vitamin A. Some 41 children below two years would receive free treated bed nets.

These were made known to the Ghana News Agency during an interaction with the Municipal Director of Health, Dr Ernestina Mensah Quainoo, and her team in Tema, on Wednesday. She said five main areas including Ashaiman, Kpone, Manhyean, Tema rural and Tema Township with 257 immunization centres are designated for the exercise.

The Health Director said the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Rotary Club were supporting the exercise. She appealed to individuals and organisations for means of transportation to help facilitate the deployment of logistics to the field.

She advised all parents to get involved with the exercise to immunize their children.

Last year, the Tema municipality recorded two suspected cases of poliomyelitis as against three, this year, but after investigations all proved negative.

There were also 77 suspected cases of measles in 2005 as against 10 this year.

The Municipal Director however cautioned that the fact that the municipality recorded few suspected cases of measles and poliomyelitis did not mean the area was totally out of risk of the disease.

Source: GNA