Sekondi (Western Region) -Some 175,540 children were immunized in the just ended measles immunization exercise in the Shama-Ahanta East Metropolis.

Dr Linda Van-Otoo, the Metropolitan Director of Health Services, disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Sekondi on Tuesday.

She said the figure is six percent higher than the target of 165,132 children set for the exercise, which took place from 9 to 15 December this year.

Dr Van-Otoo said the success of the immunization exercise was due to the fact that schools were in session during the period, hardwork of volunteers and health personnel as well as proper planning.

She appealed to communities to keep the environment clean to prevent the outbreak of communicable diseases. Dr Van-Otoo said clean environment would also help in the fight against malaria.