05-09-2013
 |
| A child with measles |
The Upper East Regional Health Directorate
says its planned activities on the impending measles/Rubella (MR) mass
vaccination exercise is on course. To that effect, over thousand vaccinators
involving health workers and trained community volunteers have received
training and would be deployed at strategic areas to embark on the 10-day
national exercise schedule to commence from September 11 to 20 this year. In all
about 500,000 children between the ages of 9 months and 14 years are expected to
be vaccinated against the two
infectious viral diseases. Briefing
newsmen at the launch of the exercise in Bolgatanga, the Deputy Director of
Public Health, Dr James Akpablie, said though children remain the targeted
group for the exercise, it is considered more dangerous when contracted by
pregnant women as it could result in abnormalities often termed as the
Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). According to him women with measles and Rubella
are likely to experience still birth causing children to be deaf and visually
impaired among other deformities. It could also lead to the death of affected
children since it causes extensive damage to the respiratory system of the
human body. The exercise, he lauded forms part of effort to achieving the MDG 4,
which aims at reducing mortality among children under five. It is also targeted
at reducing suspected cases of measles outbreak in Ghana and Upper East in
general. Dr Akpablie, highlighted the relevance of the vaccination since it was
going to consolidate the gains made with regards to measles control in the
region. He said between January to June 2010, the region recorded 80 cases of
measles out of 704 confirmed cases recorded nationwide. This, he attributed was
due to poor campaign strategies and urged the media to play its advocacy role
in ensuring that information concerning the exercise are fairly disseminated to
the targeted group particularly children in deprived and hard to reach areas.
Moreover Ghana is working towards achieving measles elimination status, hence
the need for the media to support the health sector in its social mobilization
strategies to achieve best results. Speaking to Radio Ghana, the Regional
Director of Health Services, Dr John Koku Awoonor-Williams, implored the media
to go beyond their expected role by partaking in the monitoring process of the
exercise though Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) is considered to
assess varied reactions towards the vaccine. The combined measles and Rubella
vaccine, he disclosed was safe and cost effective as its efficiency and
efficacy had been tried and tested. He therefore urged parents to alley all
fears and misconceptions associated with the vaccine and ensure that children
are send to the designated immunization post for vaccination. The first ever
national vaccination exercise against measles and Rubella is on the theme:
‘Prevent Measles and Rubella with one vaccine; vaccinate now’.
GBC END
IA/
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