NCCE Holds Townhall Meeting On Vaccination And Child Health Promotion

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), in collaboration with the Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly, has organized a town hall meeting aimed at raising awareness about childhood immunization and promoting access to child health services.

This event was part of the Annual African Vaccination and Child Health Promotion Week.

Speaking at the event on Thursday in Accra, the Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the Municipal Health Directorate, Ms. Bertha Attah Anmhd, stressed the urgent need for mothers to take their newborns and young children to health facilities for regular checkups and vaccinations.

“Vaccinations protect children from serious diseases such as measles, polio, and whooping cough, which can lead to severe complications and even death. By vaccinating children, communities can achieve herd immunity, which protects those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons,” she stated.

She lamented the high dropout rate in vaccinations across the Greater Accra Region, noting that many mothers do not complete the immunization schedule for their children.

“Feedback from the field shows that awareness creation is still slow, contributing to this problem,” she said.

Ms. Attah urged parents to prioritize their children’s health, stating, “Regardless of your beliefs, it’s your child, and it’s your responsibility. You must take them to the nearest health center whenever necessary.”

She raised awareness about the emerging threat of Mpox (Monkeypox) and encouraged community members to report any unusual skin rashes to health facilities for proper diagnosis and treatment.

A representative from the Birth and Death Registry at Mamobi General Polyclinic, Hajia Zakariah Habiba, expressed concern over the delays many mothers face in registering their children’s births.

“Birth registration is free from birth to 12 months. After that, there’s a fee,” she explained, encouraging parents to register their children early to avoid complications.

Source: Information Services Department (ISD) of Ghana