The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has launched a vaccination programme to mitigate spread of cholera in the Effutu and Agona West municipalities of the Central Region.
The two municipalities have been severely hit with the outbreak leading to multiple deaths causing authorities to embark on this decisive response.
According to the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Professor Samuel Kaba, who spoke at the launch, 300 volunteers have been trained to administer the oral dose to residents in the Effutu Municipality while a total of 180 volunteers have been designated to work in the Agona West area.
Though the vaccines are potent enough to shield those who have not been infected, Professor Samuel Kaba warns that “the vaccination alone will not solve the problem” but “cleanliness” and therefore admonishes residents to practice high levels of sanitation.
The Central Regional Minister, Ekow Panyin, after receiving a dose to signify that the vaccines are safe announced that the Central Regional Coordinating Council had instituted a compulsory monthly cleanup exercise across the region starting from March 1st.
“The vaccines can protect us for a period of three months and so we want to have a more sustainable measure which is the cleanup exercise, and it is compulsory for everyone. We are also strictly enforcing all sanitation bylaws,” he announced.
The vaccination according to the Ghana Health Service is expected to last for a week but subject to review.
