EJISU (ASH), JULY 5, GNA – DR EMMANUEL TINKORANG, THE ASHANTI REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES, HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE LACK OF COOPERATION ON THE PART OF SCHOOL AUTHORITIES TOWARDS COVID-19 VACCINATION EXERCISE IN THE REGION.
HE SAID SOME SCHOOL AUTHORITIES HAD BEEN FRUSTRATING VACCINATION TEAMS DEPLOYED TO THEIR SCHOOLS ON THE GROUNDS THAT THEY NEEDED THE CONSENT OF PARENTS.
THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, WHO WAS NOT ENTHUSED ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT, CALLED ON ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO SUPPORT THE EXERCISE IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
HE WAS SPEAKING TO THE MEDIA AT THE EJISU GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL AFTER THE CANADIAN AMBASSADOR TO GHANA, KATI CSABA OPENED A NEONATAL UNIT AS PART OF A FINANCIAL PACKAGE GRANTED BY CANADA TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE REGION.
THE 10-MILLION CANADIAN DOLLAR SUPPORT IS TO STRENGTHEN THE HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE REGION POST-PANDEMIC TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF ROUTINE SERVICES WITH FOCUS ON MATERNAL AND NEONATAL HEALTH.
DR TINKORANG SAID IT WAS IMPERATIVE FOR SCHOOL AUTHORITIES TO GIVE ACCESS TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS WHENEVER THE VACCINATION TEAMS VISITED THE SCHOOLS TO HELP ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY IN THE REGION.
HE SAID IT WAS DISHEARTENING THAT THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE GHANA EDUCATION SERVICE (GES) HAD GIVEN DIRECTIVES THAT SCHOOL AUTHORITIES SHOULD COOPERATE WITH THE VACCINATORS, YET SOME SCHOOLS WERE STILL PROVING DIFFICULT.
“I DO NOT THINK THAT IS THE WAY TO GO BECAUSE ANYTIME THERE IS AN OUTBREAK IN SCHOOLS, THE HEALTH AUTHORITIES SWIFTLY RESPOND SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT THE STUDENTS,” HE NOTED.
DR. TINKORANG ALSO BEMOANED THE VACCINE HESITANCY AND DISREGARD FOR SAFETY PROTOCOLS AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND CALLED FOR ATTITUDINAL CHANGE TO AVERT ANOTHER SPIKE.
HE SAID ONLY 36 PER CENT OF THE TARGETED POPULATION IN THE REGION HAD TAKEN THE FULL DOSE WITH ABOUT 56 PER CENT RECEIVING ONLY THE FIRST DOSE.
“OUR TARGET IS TO ACHIEVE 70 PER CENT COVERAGE BUT AS AT NOW THE FULLY VACCINATED ARE 36 PER CENT AND OUR HOPE IS THAT THE 56 PER CENT WHO HAVE TAKEN THE FIRST DOSE WILL GO ON AND TAKE THE SECOND DOSE SO WE CAN MOVE TO ABOUT 80 PER CENT,” HE SAID.
HE SAID THE DIRECTORATE HAD REVIEWED ITS STRATEGY BY INTENSIFYING HOUSE TO HOUSE VACCINATION AND URGED THE PUBLIC TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE EXERCISE TO REDUCE THE RATE OF TRANSMISSION.
Source: Ghana News Agency
