Accra, 03 March 2010 -- The Government of Ghana on Tuesday launched this year’s National immunization Days against Polio at a grand ceremony in Accra attended by the First Lady of Ghana, Mrs Ernestina Naadu Mills, queen mothers and other opinion leaders, parents, representatives of development partners, politicians, health workers and volunteers.

Mrs. Mills in an address reiterated Government’s commitment to the eradication of polio in Ghana and called on all parents to ensure that their children under the age of 5 are immunized in this campaign and in the routine immunization schedules to eradicate polio from the country. She said it was “unacceptable to see children die or incapacitated by polio in this modern era and called on all Ghanaians to support the polio eradication effort.”

ghana_pr03032010-1This year’s polio immunization exercise is being synchronized with 17 other countries in West and Central Africa where over 75 million children would be immunized from 5-7 March in the first phase and again from 23 to 25 March 2010 in the second phase. More than 45,000 volunteers spread across the country will move from house- to- house to vaccinate a total of 5.3 million children with oral polio vaccine in the first round and an addition of Vitamin A supplement to children between the ages of six months and five years in the second round.

The First Lady noted that the country’s achievement in polio eradication in the past, is an indication that the “end of polio was in sight” and urged all to rekindle this effort to deal a final blow to the disease.

Dr. Daniel Kertesz, WHO Representative who spoke on behalf of Development Partners said polio eradication is a collective responsibility which must be undertaken by all to ensure that children receive this life saving vaccine. However, parents and care givers had the most responsibility to ensure that every one of the five million children targeted in Ghana is immunized.

ghana_pr03032010-2Dr. Kertesz said the fight against polio required that countries worked together for total eradication, adding that polio could not be eradicated unless every child is vaccinated

In an overview of the polio situation in Ghana, Dr. K.O. Antwi Agyei, said the eradication of polio in one country is meaningless unless the entire continent becomes polio free, adding that wherever complacency sets in, polio thrives. He said in view of this, no child below the target population should be left out of the immunization exercise.

Dr. Antwi Agyei said since November 2008 to date Ghana has not recoded any wild polio virus case despite the fact that some countries close to Ghana have experienced outbreaks of the disease. This situation he attributed to a very vibrant polio immunization strategies adopted by Ghana which includes a strong routine immunization, national immunization days campaign , AFP Surveillance and mop up immunization programs.

He asked parents to ignore rumors that more doses of the vaccine are injurious to the health of children. He said it is scientifically proven that children living in poor sanitation environments need between 10 and 15 doses of vaccines in order to attain immunity. He therefore urged all parents to ensure that their children below the age of five receive the vaccine even if they have completed the routine immunization.

Mr. W.A. Mensah, Chairman of the Ghana National PolioPlus Committee of the Rotary International said since the Polio Eradication Initiative began in 1986, Rotary has committed more than 850 million dollars in the campaign out of which 4.9 million dollars had supported Ghana’s National Immunizations Days efforts.

He said 20 years ago when Rotarians worldwide committed themselves to to eradicate polio from the world, there were 350,000 cases worldwide but today, Rotary has helped to reduce polio cases to fewer than 2000.

Others present at the ceremony including the Deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Rojo Mettle Nunoo and the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Elias Sory all urged parents, care givers and the general public to support this campaign.

Ghana’s campaign is being funded by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Rotary International and the Government of Ghana at an estimated cost of 5,066,707 US Dollars.

For more information, please contact

Ms. Sophia Twum-Barima, Health Information and Promotion Officer,

WHO Country Office, Accra, Ghana Tel: 00 233 21 763919 and Mr. Stanley Diamenu, EPI Program Officer,

WHO Country Office, Accra, Ghana Tel: 00 233 21 763918