WCO Ghana Health News May 8, 2012
In this Issue:
1. Ghana introduces Pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines
2. 2nd Edition of African Vaccination Week launched in Ghana
3. Pre-launch visit at AYIKUMA CHPS COUMPOUND
4. Post-launch visit at MAMPONG, CHPS COUMPOUND
On 26 April, 2012 Ghana made history as the first African country to simultaneously introduce pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines into its national immunization programme in a bid to fight pneumonia and diarrheoal diseases, each of which ac-counts for approximately 10 per cent of under-five deaths in the country.
High level political and health personalities were among the hundreds of people who gathered at Independence Square, in Accra, to celebrate this historic landmark in public health. These include the First Lady of Ghana, Dr Ernestina Naadu Mills, WHO Deputy Director-General, Dr Anarfi Asamoah-Baah; the Coordinator of the WHO Inter-Country Support Team for West Africa, Dr. Oladapo Walker, representing the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo; the Chief Executive Officer of the GAVI Alliance, Dr Seth Berkley; Ghana's Health Minister, Mr. Alban Bagbin; WHO Country Representative in Ghana, Dr Idrissa Sow, and UNICEF Country Repre-sentative in Ghana, Dr Iyabode Olusanmi, among other international guests.