Ghana News & Trends

Volta Region health directorate calls for increased vaccine uptake

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The Regional Director of Health Service for the Volta Region, Dr Chrysantus Kubio, has emphasized the need for urgent action to address gaps in routine immunization and COVID-19 vaccination uptake in the region.

This call was made during a Stakeholders’ Engagement and Second Quarter Risk Communication Sub-Committee Meeting, aimed at boosting demand generation for vaccines.

Acknowledging the progress made by the Volta Region in achieving the objectives of the Health Sector Medium Term Development Plan for 2024, Deputy regional health director, Public Health, Dr. Senanu Dzokoto highlighted the importance of providing universal access to quality health services, reducing avoidable deaths and disabilities among mothers, adolescents, and children, and improving access to responsive clinical and public health emergency services.

Despite the achievements, there are significant gaps in vaccine coverage, particularly in routine immunizations and COVID-19 vaccinations. Data presented at the meeting revealed a concerning trend of children left unimmunized in the first half of 2024, with thousands missing out on essential doses of vaccines.

The region has also witnessed a rise in vaccine-preventable diseases, including confirmed cases of measles and increasing Rubella cases. Dr. Senanu Dzokoto emphasized the necessity of vaccinating all eligible children to prevent future outbreaks and protect public health.

To address these challenges, national mass vaccination campaigns are scheduled in all districts in Ghana, including the Volta Region, from October 2nd to October 6th, 2024. These campaigns aim to curb the spread of diseases and improve overall vaccination rates in the region.

Dr. Dzokoto stressed the importance of demand-generation initiatives to enhance vaccine uptake, emphasizing the benefits of vaccination in reducing childhood mortality and morbidity. He also highlighted the success of past campaigns and urged stakeholders to intensify their efforts in preventing future outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Regarding COVID-19 vaccination, Dr. Dzokoto reiterated the importance of prioritizing vaccination efforts. The Volta Region’s COVID-19 vaccination rates are below target, necessitating an integrated approach to include COVID-19 vaccination in routine immunization programs for individuals aged 15 and above.

He called on stakeholders to support this integration and advocate for both COVID-19 and routine childhood vaccinations. Dr. Dzokoto expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their support and commitment to improving health outcomes in the Volta Region, urging collaboration to drive demand for vaccines and ensure the success of upcoming vaccination campaigns.

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