Immunization Exercise

165 Communities will be covered in the fourth and final round of this year’s immunization exercise in the Mpohor Wassa East District of the Western Region. The three-day exercise is expected to immunize more than 32,000 children against polio and other diseases.

The District Disease Control Officer of the Ghana Health Service, Mr. Joseph Kwabena Arthur disclosed this in an interview with the Information Services Department at Daboase.

The Disease control officer said that the last round of the immunization exercise is a mixed bag, explaining that the exercise will include a deworming exercise for children between the ages of two and five years, provision of vitamin A to both expectant and nursing mothers.

He also said the G.H.S. is liaising with the veterinary service department to conduct dogs and cats census along side the immunization exercise, saying that the collaboration is aimed at controlling rabies in the country. According to Mr. Arthur the communities have been adequately informed about the immunization exercise through mediums such as community radios, churches and social mobilization.

Meanwhile the District has been divided into five zones with 260 volunteers forming 130 teams of which each team is assigned a community to operate in, the officer disclosed.

Notwithstanding the voluntary nature of the work, the officer said volunteers are given some allowance in order to motivate them for their efforts.

On the challenges confronting the exercise, Mr. Arthur mentioned lack of vehicles as a bane in their operation since most decentralized departments are reluctant in releasing their vehicles for the exercise. He also identified cultural beliefs of the people as a stumbling block to the work, explaining that most rural folks have a negative perception about the exercise.

“Some people are difficult to reach and other areas are also difficult to reach,” he stressed.

Mr. Joseph Kwabena Arthur, however, expressed his appreciation to the DCE. Hon. Anthony Bassaw and the Assembly for ensuring that vehicles are released for the exercise on time, expressing the hope that this will go a long way in achieving a hundred percent record with the exercise.

Again he appealed to donor agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to assist the office in fueling the vehicles.

Mr. Arthur told the Information Services Department that the team is poised at achieving a hundred percent record in the last round of the exercise since most of their needs have been met.

So far 94,933 children have been immunized in the first three exercises. The last round of the immunization exercise begins today the 12th of November and expected to end 14th November, 2009.


SUBMITTED BY:

Frank k. Danso, ISD.

Dabose.