Bolgatanga, May 7, GNA - The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mahami Salifu, on Monday launched the Child Health Week celebrations for the region with a call on parents, families and communities to give priority attention to the health needs of children.

The celebration, a joint collaboration between the Ghana Health Service (GHS), District Assemblies and the Upper East Regional Co-coordinating Council (RCC) is aimed at sensitising the public on the need to pay attention to child health issues.

Programmes lined up for the week-long celebration include vaccination against childhood killer diseases, distribution of bed nets, vitamin A supplementation and deworming of children below age five. Other activities are health examination and weighing of children, provision of child health record cards, health education on iodated salt, education on malaria control, family planning, HIV/AIDS and diarrhea and the need to register births.

In a radio broadcast on the local FM station, Mr. Salifu said the celebration had become necessary in view of the fact that the region records the highest infant mortality (children dying before their first birth day) as compared to other regions.

He said most childhood killer diseases are preventable and thus advised parents to take advantage of available cost-effective interventions in the form of free essential drugs to prevent avoidable infant and child deaths.

The Regional Minister also urged parents, especially fathers to support their wives in taking care of the health needs of their children.