More than 322,000 children immunised against poliomyelitis

Kumasi, Dec. 06, GNA 96 About 322,230 children between zero and five years were immunised against poliomyelitis in Kumasi metropolis between October 26 and November 5, during this year's Integrated Child Health Campaign.

The figure represents 85.3 per cent coverage.

Mr Joseph Amoateng, Kumasi Metropolitan Coordinator of the campaign disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Wednesday.

The theme for the exercise was 93For Healthy Childhood - Let's Fight Measles, Poliomyelitis and Malaria=94.

He said 253,178 children were immunised against measles, representing 85.4 per cent and 133,900 children were supplied with Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) to help protect them from contracting malaria.

The Kumasi Metropolitan Coordinator said the metropolis did not achieve its target during the campaign because there was no provision for the supply of mosquito nets to children above two years. He said mothers of children above two years were peeved because they did not receive bed nets for their children and refused to turn up for the exercise.

Mr Amoateng, said in the previous exercise, more than 100 per cent coverage was achieved because the strategy was from house-house whilst the current exercise was done at vantage points and most mothers did not patronise the exercise.

He commended volunteers and other health workers for their immense contribution to ensure the success of the exercise.

Mr Amoateng appealed to mothers not only to be interested in material gains from the exercise but the benefits to improve the health status of their children.