By Kekeli K. Blamey
Mafi Kpoviadzi (V/R), June 23, GNA – The Community Vulnerable Children Organization (CVCO), in partnership with the Central Tongu District Health Directorate, has held a community sensitisation durbar at Mafi Kpoviadzi to raise awareness about routine childhood and adult vaccination.
The event, themed “Protecting Every Child, Engaging Every Adult,” aimed at accelerating vaccination uptake, scaling service delivery, and integrating COVID-19 vaccinations for sustained public health impact took place on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
Mr. Gustav Boni, the Executive Director of CVCO, highlighted the critical role of education in vaccine acceptance.
He said: “A community that is well-informed about vaccination and its benefits is one that readily turns up for vaccination services without hesitation.”
He urged residents to participate in vaccination drives organized by the Ghana Health Service to protect themselves and their families.
Mr. Boni also underscored the importance of the GAVI CDS Year 3 Project, which supports COVID-19 vaccine delivery and promotes the uptake of both childhood and adult vaccinations.
He called on parents and guardians to ensure that their children receive all required vaccines, emphasizing the importance of each of the 12 vaccines currently administered in Ghana.
These, he noted, are vital not just for children and pregnant women but also for the overall health of the broader community.
Mr. Cyril Amedorme, Head of the Kpoviadzi Health Center, echoed these sentiments, emphasising that vaccination remains the most effective tool in the fight against childhood diseases.
“Vaccination has come to stay and is the proven antidote against most childhood illnesses,” he said, encouraging the community to make full use of the services provided.
Madam Vera Xoese Nyamata, the District’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and Disease Control Officer educated participants on the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and exposing the virus’s mode of transmission, its health implications, and the preventive power of the HPV vaccine.
“Globally, a woman dies every two minutes from cervical cancer — a disease caused by HPV through sexual and close contact,” she explained.
She added: “The first consignment of the HPV vaccines arrived in the country last week, and the initial phase of the rollout targets girls aged 9 to 14 years, a critical window before they become sexually active.”
Madam Nyamata emphasised also that HPV is not exclusively a women’s issue, as men can be affected too. She urged parents to make their children available for vaccination, stressing that the HPV vaccine is a proven defense against the virus.
Togbe Afutu Kwaku Addo V, Chief of Mafi Kpoviadzi, commended the CVCO and the Health Directorate for their efforts and pledged the community’s full support for the vaccination campaign.
The durbar concluded with community members expressing appreciation for the program and the information shared, reinforcing their commitment to safeguarding public health through vaccination.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah