Winneba (C/R), Oct. 16, GNA - Parents especially mothers, have

been urged to respond swiftly and positively to the National

Immunization Day (NID), which begins today Thursday, October 16,

2008 nationwide. The Medical Assistant of the Winneba Health Centre, Mr Jerry

Nunoo, who gave the advice in an interview to the Ghana News

Agency on Wednesday at Winneba when throwing lights on the 2008

Integrated Maternal and Child Health Exercise He said the three-day exercise would involve children under five

years and mothers who are up to eight weeks after delivery. Mothers are also expected to be immunized against tetanus and

other communicable diseases, while children would be immunized

against the six childhood killer diseases such as polio, measles,

whooping cough, tetanus among others. Mr Nunoo said this year's exercise, under the theme" "Healthy

Mothers and Children make a better Ghana", was the first time

mothers were being immunized. He said about 100 health workers made up of volunteers, trained

personnel and other para-medical staff would be stationed at vantage

points while others will move from door to door during the

programme for the exercise. The exercise starts in a day would round between the hours of

0600 hours 1800 hours. Mr Nunoo observed that though the campaign was a year round

exercise, it would be intensified during the three-day period to cover

those left out.