Children would vaccinated against measles in 2006 immunization campaign

Sekondi Oct. 27,-GNA-The 2006 National Child Health Campaign would include injection against measles, distribution of free treated mosquito nets and education on malaria and hand washing in addition to the usual vaccination against polio and dosage of vitamin A capsule.

Dr. Sylvester Anemana, Western Regional Director of Health Services, announced this at a press briefing on the campaign that would formerly known as the National Immunization Programme at Sekondi on Thursday. The campaign would take place from November 1 to 5 under the theme: "For healthy Childhood, Lets Fight measles, Polio and Malaria". He said the measles injection would be given to children from nine months to five years, while the polio vaccination would be administered to children from 0 to five years.

Dr. Anemana said the vitamin A supplement would be given to children from six months to five years and 218,000 treated mosquito nets would be distributed to all children under two years who immunized in the region.

He said education on the causes and prevention of malaria, which is the major cause of morbidity, and mortality of children and the washing of hands with soap would be carried at all the immunization posts. Dr Anemana said the region has been allocated two billion cedis for the campaign, which is been supported by the United Nations Children Fund (Unicef) and has received all materials for the campaign.

Dr. Anemana said trained health personnel and not volunteers would administer the measles injection, which is safe and free as the other interventions.

He said measles injection has been included in the campaign because the disease that was eradicated after the 2002 mass measles immunization is re-surfacing. Mr Peter Ofori Tweneboah, Regional Coordinator of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, said in the region, 671,095 children are expected to be immunized against polio, 570,431 injected against measles, 603,986 administered with vitamin A supplement and 268,438 provided with treated mosquito nets. He said there has been seven confirmed cases of measles from January to September this year in the region and out of the number six have not been immunized against the disease and one has "Unknown immunization status".

Mr Tweneboah said six of the children were between nine months and four years and the other, between five and 14 years. He said these were confirmed cases of measles in the region since 2003 and since 2003, there has not been confirmed cases of polio in the region. Mr Tweneboah said measles is dangerous and kills while polio kills and cripples children adding new needle and syringe would be used for each child in the measles injection. He said Vitamin A makes children strong and healthy and advised parents to ensure that children sleep under treated mosquito nets at night and wash their hands with soap before meal and after visiting the toilet. Mr Tweneboah said 1078 health workers, 3359 volunteers and 135 supervisors would take part in the campaign in the region. 27 Oct. 06