The Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia has appealed to various stakeholders to support the fight to reduce the number of polio cases in the country.
He said stakeholders could not rest on their oars despite the progress made in protecting children against the disease.
Mr. Segbefia was speaking at the launch of the 2015 sub-national immunization day campaign against polio in Accra.
This year’s exercise on the theme, “Kick Polio out of Ghana for Good life: Vaccinate your child,” seeks to inform parents on the need to immunize their children for a healthy living and for the upbringing of good future leaders.
The Minister further stated that the two dose vaccines notwithstanding, the trained health workers and volunteers would be administering vitamin A capsules to children who are above six months to boast their immune system for good eye sight.
The campaign which starts on October 22 to 24, is to help eradicate polio in the districts if not completely and equally ensure that no child dies or suffers from the disease.
The Programmes Manager, Polio Eradication Initiatives of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. George Bonsu on his part cited the immunization exercise as the best public health intervention ever which has prevented more than two million childhood deaths and a higher number of disabilities annually.
“When we save a child, we have saved the next architect, doctor, president, engineer among others because they are the future leaders of this great nation. It is thus important for the collective contributions of all especially chiefs and queen mothers to ensure every child in the communities get immunized to be able to overcome this health challenges,” he said.
The UNICEF and United Nations representative to Ghana, Dr. Prosper Tumusime, commended Ghana’s efforts in polio eradication initiative and achieving routine vaccination coverage of 90 per cent at national level over the years.
He said even though the main strategy is house to house, efforts must be made to reach all children who may be found in all other places outside the home such as schools, markets, lorry parks among others, saying “there should be no barrier to this exercise because the vaccine is free and safe”.
Dr. Tumusime also assured of UNICEF’s support to provide adequate support for the success of the programme.
–
Source : GNA