The Savannah Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Thursday 26th September, 2024 met with stakeholders to discuss on Malaria Vaccines and measures to combat malaria in children under five years in the Region.
Speaking to the media, the Savannah Regional EPI Manager, Mr. Thomas Suuri mentioned that the intervention they are bringing in the region is the Malaria Vaccine to rolled out phase 3.
Mr. Thomas added that they are pleased to be part of the phase 3 of the Malaria Vaccine implementation in the country and as such all our children from six months to eleven months are due for the vaccine and and any child that has been vaccinated within the target brackets can continue until five years of age.
Again the Malaria Vaccine is given as an injection on the child’s left leg by a trained health worker and the Malaria Vaccine is given in four doses at age Six months, Seven months, Nine months and eighteen months like other Vaccines and children who come for late can still receive their Vaccines and a child must receive all four Doses to get most protection.
Mr Thomas added that the Malaria Vaccine is an injectable Vaccines and therefore all parents should do well to Vaccinate their children.
“So the Malaria Vaccines are safe, effective and it reduces severe Malaria and can be administered at the same time with other childhood Vaccination” he said
Talking about the National Measles-Rubella and Vitamin A campaign Mr. Thomas Suuri, the regional EPI Manager for Savannah region stated that they are about to roll out an incoming intervention that is Measles-Rubella and Vitamin A campaign that they are about to start.
The EPA Manager, noted that Measles is a decease that kill children alot and with the introduction of the Measles Vaccines we can now see how the cases has reduced drastically.
The Health worker also added that over the years we have experiences and spot outbreak of Measles in all the district in the Savannah Region and the entire country.
So there is the need to boost up all the immune system of the children, especially the children under five years with this SIA to ensure that if at least they get above 95% coverage the Vaccines it going to reduce the Measles decease in the region.
Savannah Region targets 114,886 children’s under the campaigns.
Present at the Stakeholders meeting were security agencies, traditional leaders, religious leaders, PWD’s and heads of department.
Source: yagbonradioonline/Fataw Diwura
