The Ashanti Regional Health Directorate has announced that it is ready to commence the second phase of the polio vaccination campaign for children under five years old.

The exercise will begin on Thursday, November 21, 2024, and run until Sunday, November 24, 2024.

According to a report by 3news.com, Dr. Fred Adomako Boateng, the Director of the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, made the announcement at a recent media briefing.

The Health Directorate emphasised the critical goal of vaccinating at least 95% of children in the country to protect them from the disease.

Dr. Boateng stated that the efforts to eradicate polio are at risk due to recent outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus.

He stressed that the only way to break the transmission chain is by vaccinating children under five. In the Ashanti Region, the target population for the vaccination campaign is 1,042,361 children.

"Our agenda of eradicating polio is in jeopardy with the current happenings of outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus. The only way to break transmission is by vaccinating children under five, and we in the Ashanti Region are looking at a target population of 1,042,361 children.

"One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis. Among those paralysed, 5-10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilised," he noted.

Dr. Boateng urged parents and guardians to ensure their children receive the vaccination for lifetime protection against the disease and its associated consequences.

"And in some instances, the child is unable to move certain limbs, also called paralysis, even into adulthood, affecting the quality of life and at times, the potential for other activities", he stated.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the disease remains a serious concern as one in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis, and among those who are paralysed, 5-10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilised.

JKB

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