About six million children to be immunised

Accra, Oct. 30, GNA - About six million children under five years of age are targeted to be immunized against polio during this year's National Immunisation Days (NIDs), scheduled from November 1-5.

During the same period, about 5.065 million children from nine months to 59 months are expected to be immunized against measles while Vitamin A Supplement would also be administered.

In addition, 2.1 million free insecticide treated nets (ITNs) would be presented to children under-two to boost the survival of millions of children for the fight against malaria.

This year's NID is an Integrated Child Health Campaign aimed at reducing under-five mortality rate by two-thirds by the year 2015. Dr Kwadwo Antwi Agyei, Programme Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, told the Ghana News Agency on Monday that there would be fixed points for parents to send their children while mobile vans would stop at specific points like schools to ensure that children in the out-of-reach areas are not left out.

He said there would be 9,050 immunisation points, 9,505 vaccinators, and 28,514 volunteers to ensure that all the children were covered.

Total cost of the NIDs is about 162 billion cedis. The five-day campaign, combining measles, polio immunisation and distribution of free ITNs would also involve the mobilisation by every District Assembly, an inter-ministerial response, support from faith-based organisations and campaign visits by development partners and Ambassadors.

One of the targets of the Millennium Development Goals is to reduce under-five mortality from 132 per 1,000 births to 42 per 1,000 births by 2015.

Acting Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr George Amofa has noted that there has not been any reported death due to measles since 2003.

This has been made possible because of a successful mass immunization campaign in 2002. Dr Amofa says this is the first time the country is embarking on a nationwide distribution of free ITNs to all children under-two and warns against the temptation to divert them.

The nets are specially branded and not for sale and the teams will be looking out in the markets and stores during and after the campaign for offenders to be prosecuted. He says the campaign presents an enormous challenge but also an opportunity to improve the health and well being of children.