Health Director calls on the media to lead the campaign for Malaria Vaccination
Dr. Alex Bapula, the Municipal Director of Health Services has appealed to the media and stakeholders to take the lead in promoting the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign in the Wa Municipality.
The campaign, which runs from June 26th to June 30th, aims to ensure the success of the vaccination exercise.
Dr. Bapula emphasized the influential role of the media in advocating, sensitizing, and educating the public about the importance of the Malaria vaccination exercise. He called on the media to use their platforms to motivate caregivers and stakeholders to actively participate in the campaign, highlighting their crucial role in its success.
Speaking at a media and stakeholder engagement meeting in Wa, Dr. Bapula urged the media to inform the public, particularly caregivers and mothers, about the significance of the vaccination exercise and the need for them to get their children vaccinated if they fall within the 3-59 months age range.
“We need the support of the media in this campaign because in our homes, our mothers are always listening to you; some even have more than one radio set tuned to all the stations,” Dr. Bapula stated. He emphasized the media’s ability to reach a wide audience and encouraged them to utilize their platforms to educate the public about the benefits of the Malaria vaccination campaign.
The vaccination campaign, targeting children under 5 years of age, will span five days, with each child receiving three doses of the vaccine for complete protection. The Upper West Region, where the Wa Municipality is located, has been assigned a target of vaccinating 40,000 children. Dr. Bapula stressed the importance of meeting or surpassing this target to ensure the region achieves the highest vaccination rate among all the regions in Ghana.
While acknowledging that there may be minor drug reactions among some children after vaccination, Dr. Alex assured the public of the safety and health benefits of the Malaria drugs provided. He encouraged mothers, guardians, and caregivers to bring their children within the eligible age range for the vaccination exercise, emphasizing the need for widespread participation to combat the disease effectively.
The vaccination campaign will be conducted in five phases, with the first four taking place in June, July, August, and September 2023, and the final phase to be completed in 2024. Vaccination teams will visit households and market centers to ensure that all eligible children receive the necessary doses of the vaccine.
Dr. Bapula also urged parents, guardians, and caregivers to promptly report any side effects experienced by children after receiving the vaccine to the nearest health facility for immediate medical attention.
The success of the Malaria vaccination campaign relies on the collaborative efforts of the media, stakeholders, and the public at large. By raising awareness and promoting participation, the media can play a vital role in safeguarding the health of children in the Wa Municipality and contributing to the overall reduction of Malaria cases in the region.
