By Erica Apeatua Addo, GNA
Tarkwa (W/R), Oct. 16, GNA – The Tarkwa Nsueam Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has made the necessary preparations to immunise every child between the ages of nine months to five years under the National Mass Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign.
Vitamin A supplement would be added to this exercise which has been slated for October 17 to 22, 2018.
The programme is being held under the theme: « Measles and Rubella kills, vaccinate your child now for good life ».
Mr Emmanuel Affelkum, the Municipal Health Director, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that 25, 583 children representing 16 percent of the total population of 159, 895 are estimated to be vaccinated within the five-day exercise.
He said there would be immunization points at their fixed post, mobile teams and campout, adding that at the fixed post, 280 children are expected to be reached while 80 would be reached by the mobile teams and 40 would be reached at the campout.
Mr Affelkum said Measles and Rubella could cause deformity such as blindness, deaf and brain damage in children.
He urged all parents to avail their children to the exercise as the vaccine is safe, effective and free.
« No child should be left out in this campaign so that we will have adequate protection for every child that is within the Municipality », Mr Affelkum said.
Madam Mercy Nkrumah, the Municipal Disease Control Officer, assured parents that their team members have undergone intensive training and are capable of addressing any challenge which will emerge.
The country has seen a reduction in confirmed measles and rubella cases with no documented death from measles since 2013.
However, there are about 100,000 children who are not vaccinated at all in routine immunization every year.
These children remain susceptible and may build-up over time which may lead to outbreaks if nothing is done to reach out to them.
To maintain this gain, a nationwide follow-up vaccination campaign was planned for the last quarter of this year.
GNA
JP/PDC
