By Lawrencia Akoto Frempong
Afienya-Mataheko, June 04, GNA – The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Ningo-Prampram district has organised a town hall meeting on child vaccinations and health services for parents and guardians in the Afienya-Mataheko area.
The education was held on the theme “Ghana’s Future, Our Collective Responsibility,” which forms part of the NCCE’s mandate to create awareness and sensitise citizens of Ghana on national issues.
Mr Moses Sackitey, the officer in charge of the NCCE at the Afienya-Mateheko Zonal Area, noted that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) collaborated with the commission during the African Health Promotion Week to create awareness of the importance of child vaccination and the processes involved in the vaccination and healthcare of the child.
Mr Sackitey stated that vaccination has a lot of advantages for the child and parents since, once the child is vaccinated against a particular disease or bacteria, the child is well protected against the disease.
He said that vaccination protects the immune system of the people in the community and improves development in that community, noting that it was important that Ghanaians, especially parents, collectively join in the vaccination campaign.
He mentioned that even though there are some misconceptions about vaccination, it is important for caregivers to note that vaccinations are for prevention, and it helps reduce mortality rates in both children and adults.
Madam Monica Essel, a community health nurse at the SOS CHPS Compound, Afienya-Mataheko, stated that a lot of parents do not take their children to the child welfare clinic for their vaccine uptake due to certain misconceptions and their activities.
Madam Essel noted that vaccines were given to children from birth until the age of five years, adding that these vaccines protect them against certain preventable diseases.
She stated that there were vaccines that could also protect individuals from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like hepatitis B and diseases such as rabies, stressing that vaccines were safe for humans.
She added that some children might react to certain vaccines not because the nurse or healthcare professional did not give the right medication but because they might have certain allergies towards the vaccine.
She urged parents to immediately send their children to the hospital if such situations happen instead of believing in misconceptions that prevent them from vaccinating their children against preventable diseases.
Mr Peter Akplehe Agyemang, the assembly member for Mataheko Electoral Area, said that vaccination was important in the growth of individuals and reduces mortality rates in the community.
He urged parents to often take their children to the healthcare centre to vaccinate them against any preventable diseases and infections.
Madam Florence Sedjoah Asukera, the former market queen of the Mataheko community market, reiterated that vaccination was beneficial to the community and mothers especially, as it prevents diseases and helps save money from curing such diseases.
She also encouraged mothers and pregnant women to visit their health professional for advice and education on their health and vaccination for their children.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Sawer/Kenneth Odeng Adade