Coalition of NGOs in Health mark World Polio Day in Upper East

The Coalition of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), in Health has organized a public forum in Bolgatanga to mark this year’s World Polio Day with a call on all parents to ensure that their babies were vaccinated against polio.

The day, which falls on April 28 every year, is celebrated globally to remind the world community on the work that is left to wipe out the deadly polio virus.

 Addressing the public forum which attracted stakeholders including mothers, various occupational workers, traditional rulers, the media among others, Mr Alagskoma Asakeya Noble, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the Coalition, said  poliomyelitis, commonly known as Polio is a disease that cripples or paralyses children at early ages and deforms them for life.

Mr Noble said although Polio was dangerous, it had safe and effective vaccines and urged parents to ensure that their babies were given the vaccines.

He commended the Global polio Eradication Partners for collaborating with the Ghana Health Service, (GHS), the Ministry of Health (MOH), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), to sustain the fight against the disease.

Mr Noble said the collaboration has effectively contributed to the reduction of the infection by 99 per cent.

He said, this notwithstanding, the goal was to reach every child with the polio vaccine and ensure a polio-free world for future generations.

Mr Noble said the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health (GCNH), was also happy with the new initiative – new tools and new strategies for improving immunization and surveillance developed by the Global Partners and pledged the Coalition’s commitment to ensuring that these strategies worked to attain the ultimate goal of a polio free Ghana.

He said the Coalition was also grateful to the Upper East Health Directorate and the District Directors for collaborating with it to undertake pre-vaccination activities such as the mobilization of communities for immunization

Source: GNA