By Edward Williams
Hohoe (V/R), April 25, GNA – The Annual African Vaccination and Child Health Promotion Week 2026 has been launched in Hohoe to strengthen immunisation programmes in the municipality and raise awareness of the right to protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.
The Week is being observed on the theme: “For
Mr Charles Azagba, Hohoe Municipal Director of Health Services, said vaccines had, over the years, played a critical role in eradicating and controlling diseases such as chickenpox, measles and COVID-19.
He said the Week, scheduled from April 27 to May 3, 2026, marked a significant milestone in efforts to protect girls aged nine to 14 years against cervical cancer, adding that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines would be available at all health facilities in the municipality.
Mr Azagba said apart from the HPV vaccination exercise targeting young girls, other routine childhood immunisations and Vitamin A supplementation would be administered to protect children against preventable diseases.
He said during the launch of the Week in 2025, a target of 6,650 girls was set, out of which 6,352 were successfully vaccinated, indicating a high coverage rate in the municipality.
Mr Azagba said in the first quarter of 2026, only 60 out of the targeted 395 girls had received the HPV vaccine, attributing the low turnout to limited public awareness.
He said the launch was therefore to intensify education on the importance of vaccination, adding that health workers would visit schools and households to provide further information and administer the vaccines.
Mr Azagba commended health workers, traditional authorities and other stakeholders for their continuous support to ensure the success of the vaccination exercise.
Togbe Adom Dake X, Divisional Chief of Gbi Kpoeta, and Mama Nyamadzorse III, Queen Mother of Gbi Atabu, both commended the Municipal Health Directorate for the initiative and pledged their support towards the success of this year’s event.
Madam Salamatu Benson, Headmistress of St Francis Demonstration Junior High School ‘A’, said preventable diseases must be eliminated to prevent loss of instructional hours, and pledged the school’s readiness to support the programme.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah