Eastern Region achieves 100% polio vaccination

The Eastern Regional Disease Control Unit (DCU), has achieved more than the  target set for the Oral Polio Vaccination (OPV) exercise  in the region.

The Unit targeted to administer the vaccine on 568, 249 children in the region within one week, but it had so far vaccinated 571, 678 babies, representing more than 100 per cent.

Ms Emilia Diana Okine, Regional Disease Control Officer (DCO), who disclosed this to the GNA, said 511, 424 children between the ages of six and 59 months were also targeted to be given Vitamin A drops, but so far the regional DCU had been able to reach out to 487, 154 children.

She said her outfit was still undertaking a mop up exercise in communities in the hinterlands, islands and the “hard-to-reach” areas for implementation of the programme.

Ms Okine said: “due to the rains it has not been easy for us to cross rivers to those areas within the vaccination week.

“Meanwhile our volunteers are currently there embarking on the exercise to ensure that every child in the region gets immunized and given the Vitamin A”.

Ms Okine said the DCU during the exercise recorded seven suspected guinea worm cases but after testing, it was confirmed to be general ulcer “because when blisters were opened, there were no worms in the sores.”

Ms Okine said one suspected Acute Flaccid Paralysis case was recorded and ‘’the Unit is waiting for a laboratory confirmation if it is a polio case’’.

She appealed to parents to ensure that their babies received the vaccination until they are found to be well protected against polio.

Ms Okine said: “mothers should appreciate that the government and the World Health Organization are putting this mechanism in place to prevent polio in the country.

Source: GNA