From 17th to 20th October, 2024 The Ghana Health Service in collaboration with the World Health Organization WHO and other partners would carry out a nationwide polio vaccination exercise in Ghana including Ketu South Municipality in Volta Region.
The Municipal Director of Health , Mr David Agbokpe indicated that this exercise is very crucial to address the immunization coverage gap against vaccine preventable diseases and to break the chain of transmission of these diseases including Polio. He stressed the importance of every child within the target group benefiting from this nationwide exercise
He edged parents and caregivers to bring the children to the vaccination post or make them available for the vaccination teams during house to house to benefit from this nationwide campaign
“”Polio is a highly infectious disease that largely affects children under five years of age, causing permanent paralysis (approximately 1 in 200 infections) or death (2-10% of those paralyzed).
This virus is transmitted from person-to-person, mainly through the fecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g., contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis. Up to 90% of those infected are either asymptomatic or experience mild symptoms and the disease usually goes unrecognized” he added.
The Ketu South Municipal Health authorities are calling on all parent and guardians, schools, churches, mosques and all other key player to join fight the disease by ensuring that all children benefit from this intervention.
The confirmation of environmental Polio and the existence of circulation vaccine deprived Polio virus type 2 necessitated this nationwide Polio vaccination campaign the break the chain of transmission by improving the immune status of the children and to improve vaccination coverage of children in the Municipality.
Source Hebrews Pouyeli II Volta Forum
