General News of Tuesday, 31 October 2006

Source: GNA

Load shedding suspended for five days

Accra, Oct. 31, GNA - The Ministry of Energy on Tuesday announced that the load shedding programme should be suspended from November 1-5 in support of the National Immunization Days.

"In order to support the immunization programme this year and also to ensure that the health delivery targets of government are met, government has decided that the current loan shedding programme should be suspended from November 1-5," a statement signed by Mr S.Q. Barnor for the Minister of Energy said.

The statement said the load shedding programme would resume on November 6.

About six million children under five years of age are targeted to be immunized against polio during this year's National Immunisation Days (NIDs) scheduled from November 1-5.

During the same period, about 5.065 million children from nine months to 59 months are expected to be immunized against measles while Vitamin A Supplement would also be administered.

In addition, 2.1 million free insecticide treated nets (ITNs) would be presented to children under-two to boost the survival of millions of children for the fight against malaria. This year's NID is an Integrated Child Health Campaign aimed at reducing under-five mortality rate by two-thirds by the year 2015.