A total of 199,197 children aged 9 months to 59 months (children under five years) are expected to be vaccinated against measles and rubella in the Upper East Region in the ongoing nationwide Measles-Rubella vaccination exercise. Dubbed; ‘National Mass Measles-Rubella and Vitamin A Campaign’, the is being carried out by the Ghana Health Service and its partners.
In all, 249 health teams made up of 249 vaccinators and 746 volunteers have been trained and equipped to effectively carry out the exercise which ends on Monday October 22, 2018.
At the regional launch of the exercise, Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Heath Service, Dr. Winfred Ofosu, recounted that before the advent of measles vaccination, one could only be sure a child could live after surviving measles epidemic. And aftermath of every measles epidemic was malnutrition, pneumonia, skin infections, sometimes leading to blindness and death.
He said though measles deaths have decreased by 84% worldwide, the disease is still common in many developing countries. According to him, measles and Rubella are contagious viral diseases and remain a cause of death and congenital abnormalities among children globally despite availability of safe and effective vaccine.
Dr. Ofosu disclosed that during the first half of 2018, Upper East Region reported 22 suspected cases of measles but all tested negative. He said under the Global Vaccine Action Plan, measles and Rubella are targeted for elimination in 5 World Health Organisation regions by 2020.
According to him, mobile teams will be stationed at various communities and schools and fixed teams will be at various health facilities. He, therefore appealed to all caregivers to send their children within the age group to any of these vaccination points whether the child’s weighing card is available or not for vaccination.
Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Frank Fuseini Adongo, whose speech was read on his behalf, said government sees the country’s development partners as key to developing its human capital base for child survival and growth. This he said government will continue to welcome the support of all partners in delivering quality health services the its people.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1|FM|Ghana
