Gomoa East chalks success in immunisation exercise

The Gomoa East Health Directorate exceeded its target to chalk success in this year's Integrated Maternal and Child Health (IMCH) exercise held nationwide last week.

The exercise, dubbed "IMCH Campaign 2009" was held from 12 to 14 November, immunized children from birth to five years, administered Vitamin "A" Supplement to children from six months to five years and breast feeding mothers within eight weeks of delivery. It also de-wormed children from two to five years.

Other activities undertaken under the campaign were dogs and cats census, birth registration for children under one year, and re-treatment of bed nets to prevent mosquito bites.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency at Gomoa Obuasi, Mr Samuel Sosi, District Director of Health Service, said of 28,752 target population to be reached, 29,888 were given the Oral Polio Vail (OPV) representing 104 per cent.

He said 23,718 out of 25,877 children were given the Vitamin "A" Supplement representing 91.7 per cent; 764 beast feeding mothers out of 891 were given the supplement, representing 85.7 per cent and 14,516 out of 17,251 children were de-wormed being 84.1 per cent.

Mr Sosi said 2,724 dogs and 4,343 cats were registered under the exercise.

He said 78 children were registered in the three-day exercise.

Mr Sosi expressed gratitude to the District Assembly especially Mr Isaac K. Ahunu-Armah, the District Chief Executive, who made time to participate in the exercise, Nana Aba Ekwamah Twafohen of Asebu, who also took part in the exercise.

He was grateful to Plan Ghana, St. Gregory Catholic Clinic at Buduburam, Village of Hope, at Gomoa Fetteh and the Birth and Death Registry, who were collaborating Agencies.

Mrs Elizabeth Bain-Doodu, District Public Health Nurse, appealed to government to provide the district with additional vehicle to enable it to step up its outreach programmes.

Source: GNA