The Ashanti Regional Health Directorate on Wednesday 31st August 2022, launched a polio vaccine campaign under the theme, “Vaccinate All Children Under 5 years”, to prevent the spread of the virus in high-risk areas among children with over 1,206,178 under five children targeted to be vaccinated.
The first phase which is termed ‘the first round will be taking place from Thursday, 1st September to Sunday 4th September 2022 while the second round will be taking place on 9th October 2022.
Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang, the Ashanti Regional Health Director, who disclosed this today, said that 4000 teams of health workers and volunteers will be moving from house to house, schools, markets, lorry stations, churches and mosques to vaccinate all eligible children under 5 years.
He said there will also be fixed posts at health facilities, regular weighing centres and other designated areas during the four-day vaccination period.
He said the service intends to carry out round one of the campaigns from September 1st to September 4th in some selected districts while, “Round two, scheduled for October 9th this year and it will also cover all the district in the Ashanti Region,” he said.
He added that the vaccination is free of charge as he ensured the public of its safety; “I wish to assure the general public that the vaccine is safe and effective and it’s free of charge to prevent type2 polio and protect children from the disabling and potentially deadly disease, hence the effort to encourage all parents and caregivers to ensure their children under 5 years of age are vaccinated during these exercises.”
The Health Director applauded the media and all who have contributed to bringing Ghana, especially the Ashanti Region this far in the journey to eradicate polio.
Nana K.O Antwi Agyei, a Formal EPI Programme Manager also pleaded with the people in the region to open their doors for the teams of health workers in their various homes so that every child under five will be involved and for the exercise to go on smoothly and be successful.
