Twenty measles cases have been recorded in Ghana as at November 2017, according to the Ghana Health Service.
Measles or rubella, a viral infection diseases which is contagious is one of the leading causes of death among children though vaccine- preventable.
The cases possess threat to Ghana’s quest to eradicate the disease by 2020 to help reduce millions of deaths in line with World Health Organization’s global target because a single case can generate about 15 new cases.
In a presentation at the 11th CSOs Annual General Health Forum and AGM 2017 in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, the Programmes Manager of the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) of the GHS, Dr George Bonsu, said in 2013, 316 cases were recorded which was reduced to 122, 23 and 32 cases in 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively.
According to Dr. Bonsu, Ghana has reached the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) target of 90% coverage for the third dose of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (DTP3) in protection of children against killer diseases as a result, since 2008, no wild Polio virus has been recorded and no death for measles recorded since 2003 in Ghana.
Meanwhile, the EPI programme has expanded the immunization to cover 13 vaccine preventable diseases. There was shortage of the Vaccines this year for some period which had fatal impact on some new born babies and according to GHS, there is enough stock at the moment.
Dr.Bonsu said there is the need for increase in domestic vaccines -related funding, strengthen vaccine supply chains and delivery systems, improve human resource and logistics to sustain the gain to achieve the 2020 target.
The re-elected National Chairman of Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health, Dr.Gabriel Benarkuu believes despite the challenges, Ghana will be able to meet the eradication target which include polio and measles.
Source: Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
