The Ashanti Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, has officially launched the 2024 Measles-Rubella and Vitamin A Supplementation Campaign.
Running from October 2nd to 6th, the campaign will span all 43 districts in the Ashanti Region, targeting 903,973 children aged 9 to 59 months.
This year’s campaign, themed “Measles and Rubella Kills, Vaccinate Your Child Now for Good Life,” seeks to raise awareness of the dangers of measles and rubella and the critical importance of vaccinations in preventing these life-threatening diseases.
Measles, a highly contagious viral infection, spreads through coughing, sneezing, or direct contact with an infected person and can lead to severe illness, complications, and even death. Although anyone can contract measles, children are most vulnerable. Common symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and a distinct rash that spreads across the body.
At the launch event, Ashanti Regional Health Director, Dr. Fred Adomako Boateng, underscored the significance of the campaign in protecting children from preventable diseases.
“The primary goal is to boost immunity against measles and rubella by achieving at least 95% vaccination coverage in the Ashanti Region and the 15 other regions in Ghana,” he said.
He also highlighted that health workers would actively engage with communities, visiting schools and homes, and setting up vaccination posts to ensure all children within the target group receive their vaccines.
“All parents must ensure their children are vaccinated to prevent the risk of outbreaks,” Dr. Boateng urged.
Ms. Charity Nii-Quaye, Social Behaviour Change Specialist at UNICEF Ghana, reiterated Dr. Boateng’s message, assuring that the vaccines had safely arrived in the country and had been distributed across regions. She also emphasized UNICEF’s commitment to the success of the campaign.
“Ashanti Region, being the largest, requires additional support, and we are here to help ensure that the coverage goals are met, which will significantly reduce the risk of outbreaks,” Ms. Nii-Quaye said.
Data from the Ghana Health Service highlights a troubling rise in measles cases, with just one case reported in 2020, increasing to four in 2021, 24 in 2022, and a dramatic jump to 79 cases in 2023.
The WHO has reported that in 2023, approximately 700,000 children in Ghana were at risk of contracting measles and rubella, with 15 districts identified as high-risk areas for outbreaks.
As the campaign rolls out, health authorities and their partners are working diligently to meet the coverage targets, a critical step in preventing future outbreaks and protecting the health of children throughout the region.
Source – Isaac Asiedu – A/R
