By Philip Tengzu
Siiriyiri (UW/R), Oct. 23, GNA – Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has appealed to traditional leaders and community members to support the ongoing yellow fever vaccination campaign in their respective communities to ensure the success of the exercise.
He said their support would enable the Service to achieve 100 per cent coverage of the eligible population in the targeted district in the region.
Dr Akoriyea made the appeal at Siiriyiri, a community in the Wa West District, when he addressed the chief and people of the community during a working visit to the region to monitor the exercise.
The yellow fever vaccination campaign, being conducted in the Sissala East, Sissala West and Wa West Districts, targeted persons aged nine months to 60 years, excluding pregnant women.
“We intend to cover 100 per cent of the entire community, 100 per cent. But so far, we have been able to cover 92 per cent (in the Wa West District). It means we are not concluded”, Dr Akoriyea said.
He urged the chiefs, community leaders and young people, particularly men, to mobilise the residents who had not received the vaccine to participate in the exercise.
The Director-General indicated that available data showed that 79,238 males and 92,768 females were expected to be vaccinated.
Dr Akoriyea assured the public that the vaccine was free and safe, urging eligible residents not to allow fear or misinformation to discourage them from getting vaccinated.
“No one should die because of a vaccine that is available at no cost. It’s free of charge to you. It’s tried and tested, very safe”, he said.
He commended the health workers for observing the necessary precautions by ensuring that pregnant women were not vaccinated.
The Director-General also acknowledged the challenge of reaching mobile populations, particularly herdsmen who moved between communities.
Dr Akoriyea, however, said the Ghana Health Service would collaborate with the Veterinary Services to identify and vaccinate eligible persons in such groups as they moved with their livestock.
He said strengthening vaccination programmes was essential to protecting children and giving them the opportunity to contribute to national development.
“We need to give hope to all the young guys, men and women around, so that they can give their best to their country”, he said.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Philip Tengzu, GNA
Reporter’s email: [email protected]