The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is set to launch a nationwide Measles-Rubella vaccine and Vitamin A supplementation campaign from Wednesday, October 2, to Sunday, October 6.
This initiative aims to complement ongoing efforts to strengthen routine immunization programs and ensure sustainable healthcare delivery across the country.
Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director General of the GHS, has urged the general public to participate actively in the campaign to protect children from preventable diseases.
While acknowledging existing challenges, such as logistics constraints and vaccine shortages, he expressed confidence that these obstacles will be overcome to ensure the success of the rollout.
“The delay in conducting the measles and rubella for our campaign, along with vaccine supply challenges, has led to an increase in cases since 2022. In fact, during the recent outbreak, I’m informed, some schools, especially in the northern part of the country, were forced to close, and some families even relocated from the most affected areas out of fear of contracting the disease.
“This fear is not only about health but also the economic and social burdens that a single measles case can place on a family.”
Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye
Furthermore, Dr. Kwame Amponsa-Achiano, the Programme Manager for the Expanded Program on Immunization, stated that the country has made significant strides in implementing the World Health Organization’s recommended strategies for controlling measles and rubella.
However, he emphasized that there is still considerable work ahead.
He noted that, over the past five years, there has been a substantial number of susceptible children, highlighting the ongoing need for targeted immunization efforts to protect this vulnerable population.
“As we already said, this campaign will have a significant impact on all existing efforts to manage the disease in the country. The routine immunization of the measles-rubella vaccine is still happening. This cohort of children was missed and so we should have done this exercise last year”.
Dr. Kwame Amponsa-Achiano
Urgent Vaccination Campaign Needed Amid Rising Measles Cases
Moreover, Dr. Kwame Amponsa-Achiano emphasized the necessity of this year’s vaccination campaign due to a concerning increase in measles cases over the past three years, despite the absence of recorded deaths.
He highlighted that this trend underscores the importance of proactive measures to prevent outbreaks.
To address this issue, he mentioned that extensive community engagement efforts have already been undertaken in the districts.
These initiatives aim to raise awareness and educate the public about the critical importance of immunization in protecting children’s health.
By actively involving local communities, health officials hope to ensure a higher turnout for vaccinations and foster a greater understanding of the benefits of immunization in preventing serious illnesses like measles and rubella.
“The general public is encouraged to support the campaign by making available the children under 5 years to be vaccinated against the deadly disease”. – Dr Amponsa-Achiano.
Meanwhile, more than 5 million children are targeted to receive the vaccines in response to the rising number of reported measles cases across the country.
Over 10,000 vaccination teams have been deployed to ensure the success of this critical campaign, which had originally been scheduled for last year.
The extensive mobilization of these teams reflects the urgency of addressing the growing health threat posed by measles.
The last comprehensive vaccination campaign of this nature in Ghana took place in 2018, resulting in a significant backlog of children who have since become vulnerable to the disease.
While the country had seen a steady decline in measles cases for several years, the past three years have marked a troubling resurgence, with increasing cases reported in various regions.
This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for widespread immunization efforts, as timely vaccinations are essential for protecting children and preventing outbreaks of this highly contagious disease.
READ ALSO: Protests Erupt in Nigeria Amid Economic Hardships
