More than 4.3 million children to be immunized

Cape Coast, Oct 12, GNA - More than 4.3 million children aged between nine and 59 months are expected to be immunized against measles under the Supplementary Immunization Activity (SIA) programme scheduled to take place from November 3 to 6 nationwide. They will also be given vitamin 'A' supplements to protect their eye sight during the exercise Dr John Eleeza, the Central Regional Deputy Director in charge of Public Health, has said at a press conference.

Dr Eleeza described measles as a "champion killer" because it is one of the highest causes of death among children under five years. The exercise is carried out every four years and for the past eight years Ghana has not recorded any measles death. He said measles accounts for five per cent of all under five deaths in Africa and 50 per cent of all vaccine preventable deaths and appealed to journalists in the region to join the fight against the disease. Dr Eleeza said the Millennium Development Goal Four, which advocates the reduction of infant mortality rate, could be achieved within the scheduled time if cases of measles were reduced. 12 Oct 10