Accra: The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has said the objective of the commemoration of the African Vaccination and Child Health Promotion Week is to raise awareness on the free essential child health services at various health facilities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the annual commemorations seek to showcase the value and importance of vaccination.
The service noted that there is the need to increase vaccination coverage and to increase uptake of other child health interventions as well as encourage community ownership of these services by generating demand. Dr. Farida Njelba Abdulai, Deputy Director of Public Health, Greater Accra Region, said this during the launch of the week-long celebration of African Vaccination and Child Health Promotion at Sege, in Ada West District Capital.
Dr. Abdulai emphasised that the week promotion highlights the importance of vaccination with the theme 'Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible.' She disclosed that currently, the country offers 14 vaccinations against preventable diseases including polio, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, Hemophilus influenza B, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, pneumococcal, Rota virus, measles, rubella, yellow fever, and meningitis, and malaria in some other regions.
She stated that these vaccines have helped the country significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with the diseases, especially in children under five years, disclosing that the health service would use the week to follow up and mop up on all kids who have missed their vaccination scheduled dates. She revealed that the week also provides the platform to create awareness of the lifesaving interventions such as vitamin A supplementation, deworming, growth monitoring, vaccination, and the use of insecticide-treated bed nets for protection against malaria, reproductive health promotion, nutrition counselling, and health education.
She disclosed that the theme for this year's child health promotion week, 'Every Child Deserves a Healthy Future: Invest in Your Child. Attend Weighing Regularly,' underscores the need for all community members to support the delivery of these services ensuring that all eligible children have access, while communities support with space for the provision of outreach services. She commended the staff of the Ada West District Health Directorate for their dedication and commitment to work, adding that the Region Health Directorate was working to ensure that the requisite staff, equipment, and logistics were in place to support services in the district.
Mr. Samuel Etsey, the Ada West Director National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), urged the public to dispel myths and superstitious beliefs on vaccination and make their children available for their immunisations as it is one of the fundamental rights of the children. Mr. Etsey further disclosed that in countries, such as the United Kingdom, parents who fail to vaccinate their children risk having them taken away for parental neglect while in Cuba, such negligence could lead to prosecution, adding that 'while Ghana may not have such stringent measures, we must recognise that vaccinating our children is non-negotiable, as it is a matter of life and death; and health and prosperity.
He added that good parenting is both a moral duty and a civic responsibility as parents and guardians were expected to ensure that their children receive all vaccinations from birth up to five years, stressing that it was a critical obligation which failure amounted to neglect and not protecting the country's future. He also called on community and religious leaders to advocate for vaccination and dispel myths, indicating that his outfit was committed to educating communities through churches, mosques, schools, and identifiable groups on the importance of childhood vaccination.
While charging the government and stakeholders to invest in sustainable health systems, he disclosed that the health promotion week presents a unique opportunity for stakeholders to reaffirm their collective commitment to safeguarding the health and future of children through vaccination and improved child health services. He said that beyond the regular vaccinations, children also need vitamin A supplementation, proper nutrition, and regular health check-ups to boost their immune systems and ensure their overall well-being. He urged parents to support health workers during outreach programmes, educate others on the benefits of immunisation, reject misinformation, and embrace science-backed health practices.