The Ghana Health Service has announced a nationwide immunization exercise for measles targeting children aged nine months to 59 months.

This program is scheduled to run from Wednesday, October 2, to Sunday, October 6, 2024. The primary goal is to protect children from measles and rubella, while also providing essential vitamin A supplementation to enhance their overall health.

At a press conference in the Upper East Region on Monday, September 30, 2024, Dr. Samuel Boakye-Boateng, the Regional Director of Health Service, emphasized the importance of the initiative. He noted that earlier this year, the region experienced measles outbreaks, particularly in the Bawku West and Garu Districts, with additional cases reported in five other districts.

Dr. Boakye-Boateng explained that this national exercise is a supplemental immunization activity featuring the measles rubella vaccine and includes vitamin A supplementation.

He pointed out that outbreaks were recorded nationwide, with two districts in the Upper East Region specifically experiencing significant cases, defined as three or more cases within a district over a recent period.