The Upper East Regional Health Directorate will commence the mass vaccination of children between the ages of one to four years against Meningococcal meningitis across the region from July 20 to July 26, 2016.
The Men A conjugate vaccine (MenAfriVac) will be administered on the left arm to make children immune to the Meningococcal Sero A meningitis, and prevent a further outbreak of the disease which is very prevalent in Northern Ghana.
[contextly_sidebar id=”GzNYwIeoUL1MDxz5nzVSLMA9H0oIN8VL”]Speaking to Citi News, the Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Kofi Issah, said the exercise will not only cover children but also strengthen the pharmaco-vigilance system for monitoring adverse events following the immunization.
He added that, it will also strengthen the case-based surveillance system for cerebrospinal meningitis and reduce meningitis morbidity and mortality in the region.
According to Dr. Issah, the exercise is targeting 134,917 children across the region, adding that, 145 health workers, 435 volunteers and 90 supervisors, will be involved in the exercise.
He stated that, vaccinated children would have their fingers marked with indelible ink to avoid double vaccination, adding that, frantic efforts are being made to vaccinate children who may migrate from other southern regions to settle permanently in the region.
Dr. Issah appealed to parents, caregivers and traditional leaders to support to make the exercise a success and impressed on parents to report to the nearest health care center for medical attention should their children react to the vaccine.
The exercise, which will be done concurrently in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern regions, will cost the Upper East Region alone GHc 319,157.00
Cerebrospinal Meningitis is a contagious disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis, a bacteria which causes the disease only in humans. It is highly prevalent in Northern Ghana between December and June when the weather is dry, windy and dusty with cold nights.
In the 2015 outbreak of Pneumococcal meningitis, 135 cases were recorded in Brong Ahafo and other regions, with nearly hundred lives lost.
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By: Frederick Awuni/Citifmonline.com/Ghana