The traditional rulers in a group photograph with members of NGOs in Health
Although childhood immunisation has been a major national development goal in Ghana, coverage rates remain low in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.
The residents mentioned some of the major factors hindering attendance as poor knowledge about immunisation and inadequate community health personnel to carry out immunisation exercise.
They also mentioned the timing of immunisation sessions, length of prior notice to the community, attitude of service providers and fear of side effects generally deter attendance.
To this end, the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations in Health has organised a public forum at Nvelenue, a farming community in the district, to sensitise the people on the need to ensure that their children are vaccinated when the need arises.
It was organised in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and GAVA.
The move was also part of activities to mark this year’s World Immunisation Day.
The Acting District Director of Health Services, Kwame Sampson, explained that improving immunisation coverage was vital to promoting child health and reducing childhood diseases and deaths.
He explained that vaccines could help prevent or ameliorate the effects of a future infection.
Mr Sampson disclosed that in order to provide the best protection, children are recommended to receive vaccinations as soon as their immune systems are sufficiently developed.
“Besides recommendations for infant vaccinations and boosters, many specific vaccines are recommended for other ages or for repeated injections throughout life,” he added.
Mr Sampson encouraged fathers to always prompt and remind their wives of weighing dates, and to take keen interest in what report mothers bring from their visits.
Benjamin Sackey, Western Regional Chairman of the Coalition of NGOs in Health, mentioned that the initiative was aimed at promoting the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against diseases.
He revealed that immunisation saves millions of lives and is widely recognised as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective health interventions.
“We have gathered that the rates of immunisation in the Jomoro area, particularly the Nvelenue community, is low and more measures need to be put in place to address the problem”.
“For this reason we are here to drum home and to encourage the residents to send their children for immunisation on regular basis to help improve their health status in the district,” he said.
The chief of Nvelenue, Nana Fameyeh Kpainyili II, called for the setting up of immunisation centres at all market centres in the district and motivation of nurses and other health staff to enable them to give off their best.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Nvelenue