Over 300,000 children immunised against polio in Kumasi

Kumasi, Dec. 6, GNA 96 A total of 322,230 children less than five years were immunised against polio in the Kumasi metropolis between October 26 and November 5, this year.

Mr Joseph Amoateng, Kumasi Metropolitan National Immunisation Day (NID) Coordinator, told the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Wednesday that the figure represents 85.3 per cent coverage. The theme for the exercise was: 93for healthy childhood, let's fight measles, polio and malaria=94.

Mr Amoateng said 253,178 children were immunised against measles, representing 85.4 per cent while some 133,900 were supplied with mosquito treated bed nets to help protect them from contracting malaria. He said the metropolis did not achieve its target for the immunisation because there was no provision for the supply of mosquito nets to children above two years adding that their disappointed mothers failed to turn up for the exercise on hearing that their kids would not get the protective nets.

Mr Amoateng said in the previous exercise, more 100 per cent coverage was achieved because the strategy was from house-house unlike the current exercise which was done at vantage points. He commended volunteers and other health workers for contributing immensely to ensure the success of the exercise. He appealed to mothers that in future they should not look at the material gains of the exercise but how it would help improve the health status of their children.