Don't be satisfied with immunization coverage - Dr Agyei

Kumasi, August 13, GNA - Dr Kwadwo Antwi Agyei, National Immunization Programme Manager, said the Kumasi Metropolitan Health Directorate should not be satisfied with its immunization coverage performance.

Out of the targeted 61,166 children aged under-one in the metropolis, 43,327 were immunized, last year. Addressing the mid-year performance review workshop, Dr Agyei said the large number of 17,839 children left uncovered should give cause for concern.

This was because, polio, as a communicable disease, could easily spread in the metropolis, he said.

He therefore urged the Directorate to draw up a programme to get those uncovered, immunized. Dr Joseph Oduro, Deputy Director of Public Health, advised the leadership of health facilities to improve on their performances. The review, he said, was not witch-hunting but to enable the health personnel to critically assess their performance and put in place corrective measures, where necessary, to promote quality services delivery.

Dr Oduro asked them to ensure that they worked as a team for effective health delivery.

He said there was the need to avoid waste by making sure that the limited resources were put to judicious use to save lives. Dr Oduro said despite the progress the health sector was making, there remained challenges such as poor infrastructure, poor medical equipment and inadequate funding.

Dr Kwabena Opoku-Adusei, Senior Medical Officer, South Suntreso Hospital, said available statistics showed that the doctor-patient ratio in the metropolis stood at 1:34,728. He said that of the nurse-patient was 1:3,586, and this, he observed, was not good. 13 Aug. 09