MOH to begin CSM vaccination of children in Northern Ghana

The Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service will begin vaccination of all children against cerebrospinal meningitis, CSM, in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions. 

The exercise, which will commence in July 20 to July 26,  is targeted at children between the ages of one to four years.

This was announced by the Upper East Regional Director of Health Service, Dr Kofi Issah, at a media and stakeholder engagement on the upcoming exercise in Bolgatanga. 

Dr Issah therefore used the occasion to call on stakeholders to get on board and ensure all children are vaccinated and protected against CSM especially in the region. 

Ghana Health Service and its development partners are working towards reducing meningitis related mortality by ensuring that the population is protected against the devastating effects of epidemics. 

Ghana received approval from GAVI to introduce four vaccines in 2015 that is the Second Dose measles, Pneumococcal, Rotavirus, and Men A conjugate vaccines. 

Ghana will subsequently introduce the Men A vaccine into the routine immunisation schedule in November 2016. 

Dr Issah said in 2012, a campaign was conducted and all those between two to twenty nine years of age were vaccinated against the most common form of meningitis (Men A). This is due to protect the recipients for 10 years.

He said it has been 4 years since the campaign started and this mini catch-up campaign is to vaccinate children who were born after October 2012 and also are one year old this month.
Dr Issah said the upcoming exercise was critical in the survival of children against CSM. 

Dr. Issah said a total number of 134,917 children in the Upper East region have been targeted adding that, by the end of the six day vaccination exercise, over 95 percent of the target group in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions will have been vaccinated with meningitis A conjugate vaccine. 

He used the occasion to advise parents, guardians and caregivers to avail their wards for the exercise and also urged them to report anything untoward during or after the vaccination to ensure a successful exercise. 

The meeting brought together stakeholders including Food and drugs Authority, Ghana Red Cross Society, Ghana Police Service, health personnel and the media. 

It was aimed at sensitising them on the upcoming exercise to be better positioned to inform the public on the importance of the exercise.

GBC