Five days Immunisation exercise ends

Accra, Nov 5, GNA - The five-day National Immunisation exercise ended on Sunday with health officials expressing satisfaction with the turn out.

This year's exercise under the theme "Integrated Child Health Campaign" aimed at reducing under-five mortality rate by two-thirds by the year 2015, started from November 1-5, 2006.

The exercise combined measles and polio immunisation, administering of vitamin A and distribution of 2.1 million free Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) to children less than two years old was the first in the country to boost the survival rate of millions of children. About 5.959 million children from 0 months to 59 months for polio and about 5.065 million children from nine months to 59 months for measles were targeted at a cost of about 162 billion cedis.

There were 9,050 immunisation points, 9,505 vaccinators, and 28,514 volunteers to ensure that all the children were covered.

Dr Kwadwo Antwi-Agyei, Expanded Immunisation Programme Manager of the Ghana Health Service, told the GNA in an interview that he exercise was successful and commended all those who were involved for their had work and sacrifice.

A visit by the GNA to some immunization points in some parts of Accra saw volunteers sitting idle with less work to do. At the Ashalley Botwe Newtown immunization point Ms Emefa Voudianyi, a volunteer, told the GNA that the first three days experienced high turn out "but the last two days have been less busy".

She said some mothers started queuing as early as 0400 hours on the first and second days to avoid being in long queues under the scorching sun.

"I believe the high turn out was because of the free distribution of ITNs that attracted more mothers. Even those who do not send their children for Child Welfare Clinic brought their children for immunization", Ms Voudianyi said.

The story was not different at the Adjirigano post near East Legon, OIC at Shiashie, La Trade Fair, OSU Kaagyano and Osu Alata. When the GNA got there volunteers were less busy with mothers trickling in. Few mothers the GNA spoke to expressed dissatisfaction that the ITNs were meant for just children from zero to two years.

"My daughter is two years three months and the net is expensive and I cannot afford it so I thought I would be given here but I wasn't", Naa Morkor of Osu Alata told the GNA.

Mrs Marian Narh of Ashalley Botwe was of the view that every child under five years who was immunised should have been given the net because "the mosquito when biting does not discriminate, and malaria we know is no respecter of persons." 05 Nov. 06