Health practitioners and experts have bemoaned the shortage of child immunisation vaccines across the country since the beginning of the year.
Although the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has assured the vaccines will be restocked soon, the situation doesn’t seem to calm nerves. This is due to the critical nature of the vaccines as well as the spread of measles in some parts of the country.
In an interview with JoyNews, President-elect of the Pediatric Society of Ghana, Dr. Hilda Manteybea Boye said “we risk having children die” as a result of the shortage.
She has therefore urged the Ghana Health Service to expedite action.
“It is the action that we are looking for. So whatever it will take for them to get us the vaccines like today, because every day we risk having children die from this shortage,” she said.
Currently, 16 districts in the Northern Region have recorded cases of measles.
Head of Pediatrics and Child Health at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Professor Alhassan Abdul Mumin confirmed the measles outbreak, indicating that there is no district in the Northern Region, that has not recorded an outbreak of measles for most of the children who were born since 2022.
On his part, a Neurosurgeon and General Secretary of the Islamic Medical Association of Ghana, Dr. Hardy Abdullah says the shortage can affect the development of a child's nervous system.
“The long-term effects, especially measles and Rubella could have an impact on the baby's central nervous system. And so as a country, the fact that we can't get the vaccine is unfortunate.”
The health experts and practitioners are therefore intensifying pressure on the government on the need to secure the three essential vaccines for babies.
Meanwhile, Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has appeared before Parliament to brief the House on the development.
Latest Stories
-
I want to focus more on my education – Chidimma Adetshina quits pageantry
50 mins -
Priest replaced after Sabrina Carpenter shoots music video in his church
1 hour -
Duct-taped banana artwork sells for $6.2m in NYC
1 hour -
Arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander over alleged war crimes
1 hour -
Actors Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are engaged
1 hour -
Expired rice saga: A ‘best before date’ can be extended – Food and Agriculture Engineer
1 hour -
Why I rejected Range Rover gift from a man – Tiwa Savage
2 hours -
KNUST Engineering College honours Telecel Ghana CEO at Alumni Excellence Awards
2 hours -
Postecoglou backs Bentancur appeal after ‘mistake’
2 hours -
#Manifesto debate: NDC to enact and pass National Climate Law – Prof Klutse
2 hours -
‘Everything a manager could wish for’ – Guardiola signs new deal
3 hours -
TEWU suspends strike after NLC directive, urges swift resolution of grievances
3 hours -
Netflix debuts Grain Media’s explosive film
3 hours -
‘Expired’ rice scandal: FDA is complicit; top officials must be fired – Ablakwa
4 hours -
#TheManifestoDebate: We’ll provide potable water, expand water distribution network – NDC
4 hours