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ASHMA exceeds polio immunisation target

The Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) exceeded its second round polio immunisation target by 14,215 after the three-day nationwide exercise, in October, this year.

The Assembly vaccinated about 71,119 children under 5 years old against its projected target of 56,904 in the municipality.

Ms Gladys Gbadagbali, the Municipal Health Promotion Officer, ASHMA, disclosed this after the second round exercise which took place in the municipality from  October 6th to 9th .

Ms Gbadagbali indicated that the assembly exceeded its immunisation target by 4,970 in the first round that took place from September 4th to 7th this year, from an estimated figure of 49,224 to 54,194 after the exercise. 

According to her, the increase was due to the collaboration between the assembly, Greater Accra Red Cross Society, the Municipal Health Directorate, parents and opinion leaders in the communities.

The Municipal Health Promotion Officer said polio was infectious and there was the need to prevent it from spreading by vaccinating all children at the early stage of their birth.

She asked parents to be more concerned about health conditions that could harm children at the early stages of their development.

Ms Gbadagbali advised parents to ensure that their children were vaccinated.

She asked parents to keep a clean and hygienic environment by disposing of waste properly and tidy surroundings, to avoid diseases.

The Coordinator of School Head Education Programme (SHEP), Ghana Education Service, in ASHMA, Ms Becca Arthur, urged opinion leaders and parents to ignore the negative perception about the efficacy of the polio vaccine, and assured them of its potency to prevent polio.

She said the vaccine had been tested and proven to be harmless without side effects.

Mr Tour Henry Kansanga, the Acting Regional Manager for Greater Accra Red Cross, said his outfit has been supporting organisations including the Ghana Health Service in mobilising communities using its community-based volunteers to ensure successful immunisation.

He noted that the volunteers played a key role in all the measures employed before, during and after the exercise.

BY VICTOR A. BUXTON

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