MASS immunisation against yellow fever began yesterday in 43 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies across the country described as high-risk zones.
The aim of the exercise is to protect Ghanaians against the dreadful disease which currently does not have any treatment.
Communities in Tema, Ledzokuku, Krowor and parts of the Accra metropolis and the Upper West Region are to benefit from the exercise, which has targeted 1.9 million people.
The one-week exercise, being undertaken by officials of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has become necessary following the discovery of three yellow fever cases in the Upper West Region recently.
The Deputy Director of Public Health at the Greater Accra Regional Health Administration, Dr Edward Antwi, said Ghanaians above 10 years in all the selected regions, except the Upper West Region, where immunisation is given to those from age one, qualified to go for the immunisation, which is free of charge during the one-week campaign period.
After the one week, however, it will cost GHc10 to get immunised.
“ Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes to humans.
Up to 50 per cent of severely affected persons without treatment will die from yellow fever,” Dr Antwi stated, and explained that the disease did not have any treatment, as only supportive treatment, such as oral rehydration, rest, blood transfusion and dialysis for those who get kidney failure, was available.
“It’s a dreadful disease and every one in the selected areas must turn up for the immunisation,” Dr Antwi.
The Greater Accra Regional Disease Control Officer, Mr Daniel Ato Ashon, told the Daily Graphic that the exercise took off simultaneously in all four sub-metropolitan areas — La, Ayawaso, Osu Klottey and Ashiedu Keteku.
At the Adabraka Polyclinic, 152 people had been immunised as of 1:40 p.m. when the Daily Graphic team visited the facility.
Mr Ashon, who described attendance as impressive, explained that it would take 10 days for the vaccination to start working, while anybody who got vaccinated would be free from the disease for a period of 10 years.
He expressed optimism that the public would warm up to the exercise to ensure its success.
From Tamale, Nurudeen Salifu reports that the immunisation exercise took off in earnest in six districts in the Northern Region, with a target to reach over 430,000 people who are 10 years and above.
The districts are East Gonja, West Gonja, Central Gonja, Bole, West Mamprusi and Sawla-Tuna-Kalba.
In an interview, the West Gonja District Health Director, Dr Chrysantus Kubio, said immunisation was ongoing in all the 12 health centres in the district, including the West Gonja Hospital, and the various educational and training institutions.
He described patronage as very encouraging, adding that he was hopeful the targets would be reached by the end of the exercise.
The Deputy Northern Regional Health Director in charge of Public Health, Dr Jacob Mahama, told the Daily Graphic that 460,160 vaccines, needles and syringes had been allocated for the exercise in the region.
SOURCE: Naa Lamiley Bentil and Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic, Thur Nov 23, 2011
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