A total of 1469 technical staff from the northern regional Health directorate has been dispatched to undertake this year’s mass vaccination exercise against Meningitis commonly known Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM) beginning from 9th to 18th October 2012.
About 1,771,450 people ranging from the ages 1 to 29 in the northern region are expected to be vaccinated. 4,377 volunteers under the supervision of 406 supervisors have also been trained by the directorate to assist the technical staff in the vaccination campaign.
The vaccinators would immunize a new conjugate vaccine known as MenAfricVac, which was successfully deployed in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in 2010 during the exercise to the vulnerable group.
Northern regional director of the Ghana health service, Dr Akwasi Tumasi disclose this at the launch of this year’s meningitis campaign in Tamale.
Dr Twumasi the disease has gone to the extent that the average person is aware of the symptoms, but have no knowledge about its types which he said is a source of worrying. He said type A of the disease accounts for over 80 percent of the cases of meningitis in the region.
Dr Twumasi appealed to chiefs and opinion leaders to help health authorities identify the vulnerable group and protect them against the CSM. The director explained that the disease occurred normally during dry season because the humility is low and urged the public ensure that there is free circulation of air and avoid overcrowding in the rooms.
He also the public to report to designated centers and desist from resorting fake doctors. The disease according to health officials is very serious because, it evolves rapidly and can kill in a few hours. CSM is an infection of Maninges, a thin lining that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord.
The Health and Nutrition Officer of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Dr Geoffrey Accagesaid it is not permissible for people to die through preventable diseases and entreated the citizenry to embraced vaccination against any form of diseases.
Dr. Accage also urged the general public not shy away of going for vaccines saying there is no danger to immunization but rather greater health benefits.
Immunization according to the health directorate would take place in health centers and at s number of temporary posts set up in schools, markets, bus stations mosques and neighborhoods in all the regions involved in the exercise. ]]>
