Volta Region prepares for health campaign

Ho, Nov. 28 GNA - The people of the Volta Region are being prepared to patronise this year's year's Integrated Maternal and Child Health Campaign (IMCHC).

Mr Godwin Afegbe, Volta Regional Disease Control Officer of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), who was speaking at the Volta Regional Committee meeting of IMCHC in Ho, stated that the Service was doing everything possible to deliver key messages to the public before the onset of the campaign to forestall the panic created during the last national de-worming exercise.

Mr Afegbe advised that parents and guardians should ensure that children ate before taking de-wormers to minimise its side effects, which must be made known to the public. The three-day campaign is on the theme: 'Healthier Mothers and Children In Ghana's Golden Jubilee Year and Beyond.' Mr Afegbe said the aim of the campaign was to reduce maternal mortality and child morbidity and mortality and appealed to personnel engaged for the campaign to play their roles effectively and efficiently. He said during the campaign, polio vaccines would be given to children of between one day and 59 months and vitamin A supplements would also be given to children between six months and 59 months and lactating mothers.

Mr Afegbe said Children between two years to five years would be de-wormed and free insecticide treated mosquito nets would be given to children of 11 months and below and pregnant women. He said the GHS has trained enough personnel including volunteers for the exercise and that "enough logistics and funds have also been mobilized and distributed to all the districts after they have presented their micro plans for the exercise". Mr Afegbe said social mobilization activities were being intensified and appealed for support from all stakeholders in the health delivery system for the success of the campaign.