By Paul Mamattah
As part of an effort to enhance public understanding of immunization and its benefits, the Ada West District office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), in collaboration with the Ada West District Directorate of the Ghana Health Service, has intensified its education campaign to raise public awareness about the significance and benefits of immunization.
These initiatives coincide with the commemoration of African Vaccination Week and Child Health Promotion Week in the district.
The campaigns targeted various identifiable groups within the community, including churches, mosques, dressmakers’ associations, market women, and artisans, highlighting the importance of participating in immunization exercises.
The primary goal of the campaigns was to enhance public understanding of immunization, which is expected to drive higher demand for vaccination services.
It also aimed at promoting community ownership and involvement in immunization efforts, ultimately leading to improved vaccination coverage rates.
Furthermore, the initiative seeks to strengthen partnerships with local and international stakeholders to ensure sustained support for Ghana’s immunization programme and to reduce the number of unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children, particularly in urban and underserved areas.
Addressing participants, the Ada West District Director of the NCCE, Samuel Etsey, emphasized that vaccines are vital for protecting children from deadly diseases and are provided free of charge by the Ghana Health Service.
He urged parents to ensure their children complete the full vaccination schedule to guarantee full protection and noted that with vaccine supplies restored, now presents a crucial opportunity to catch up on any missed doses.
Mr. Etsey called on parents, opinion leaders, and religious leaders to play a significant role in promoting vaccination, encouraging the community to trust health professionals, and disregarding harmful myths surrounding vaccines.
The observance of African Vaccination Week and Child Health Promotion Week serves as an excellent opportunity to boost awareness and encourage participation in immunization efforts among residents.
On her part, a Registered Community Health Nurse with the Ada West Health Directorate, Juliana Serwaa Mireku, called on parents to consistently take their children for weighing and immunization from birth until five years of age.
She observed that many parents stop these essential health checks once their children reach age two, a practice she strongly advised against.
Madam Mireku Koranteng emphasized the need to promote vaccine uptake and improve access to essential health services for children under five years old.
She noted that as part of the 2025 African Vaccination Week and Child Health Promotion Week, the campaign is designed to raise awareness among parents and caregivers about the importance of child health services, which are provided freely by the Ghana Health Service.
The Senior staff nurse stressed that the campaign will focus on educating the public about the importance of routine vaccination and its benefits to both individuals and communities and addressing concerns about vaccine safety by dispelling common myths.
She also called on parents to take full responsibility for ensuring that their children complete all required vaccination schedules.
Madam Mireku pointed out the broader role played by community leaders, religious groups, and chiefs in encouraging positive health-seeking behaviors and urged their active participation to support efforts that ensure all children receive the protection they need through timely and complete immunization.