Ghana has not recorded any Wild Polio Virus (WPV) case since October 2008.
The success is as a result of high coverage levels achieved in polio National Immunization Days (NIDs) over the years by both administrative and independent monitors coupled with swift national response when polio cases occur in neighbouring countries and certified polio free since 2007.
This was made known by the Western Regional Deputy Director of the Ghana Health Services (GHS), Dr. Kwaku Anin Karikari, at a press briefing in Sekondi.
He announced that this year’s immunization campaign will begin on Thursday, 22nd March – Saturday, 24th March, while the second phase of the exercise will begin tentatively on 10th – 12th May with child health promotion week.
He explained that trained officers for the exercise will embark on house-to-house, fixed points like health centers, mobile services and camp-outs to immunize children under-five years.
He also mentioned causes of polio as Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP), Transverse Myelitis, Guillain Barre Syndrome and Trauma.
Dr. Karikari gave the reasons to end polio as a generation defining achievement, cheaper eradication than containment and part of a global movement for justice, and the end of extreme poverty.
According to him, ending polio is the right thing to do and that “we should take steps to reduce and eliminate debilitating diseases wherever they are.”
He further mentioned Pneumococcal Vaccine which contributes to reducing pneumonias and meningitis in children under-five and Rotavirus Vaccine which contributes to reducing diarrhea in children under-five as new vaccines introduced.
STORY: FROM SETH AMEYAW DANQUAH, SEKONDI, W/R.
