The Sawla- Tuna- Kalba Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service has suspended the Inactivated Polio Vaccination (IPV) campaign which started Wednesday, February 19, and expected to end on Tuesday, February 25, 2020.
It is part of the nationwide campaign targeting children aged between 21 months and 47 months.
A release issued on Thursday, signed by Mr Zakaria Abdul Kassim , the District Director of Health Services, said: “They have suspended the IPV catch- up campaign effective Thursday February 20, until the unnecessary harassment by the Ghana Highway Authority stops.
According to him the District Health Directorate pick- up on its way from Blema on supervision was arrested for not paying toll booth fees.
He said his staffs are constantly embarrassed by the Authority anytime their vehicle uses the toll booth route for official duties.
This he thinks they cannot afford to pay anytime they use the road because most of their health facilities and communities are located on the Sawla- Tuna stretch and hence the suspension of the exercise.
Mr. Zakaria told Yagbon News that the Directorate’s pick has been arrested and currently stationed at the Sawla police station.
We regret the inconvenience our action might cause caregivers and their children but that is the best action we think will save us from this embarrassment, the release added.
The IPV campaign is, to reinforce the 2019 mOPV-2 reactive vaccination campaign
This is a vaccination which would be given all Children eligible for the vaccine at all Public Health facilities and designated points in the communities in the district, the Director told Yagbon News.
“It is very essential that every eligible child receives the IPV during this campaign for protection, irrespective of their routine immunisation status.”
He said polio is a deadly disease that can paralyse and even cause death, and the IPV vaccination prevents that.
“The IPV is an extremely safe and effective vaccine that has been used successfully in many countries for several decades. Polio Vaccine, given multiple times can protect a child for life”, he said.
