Residents of Kasena Nankana West district of the Upper East Region are appealing to government and health authorities to extent the on-going malaria vaccine piloting exercise in the area. Describing the malaria vaccine as a ‘life saving initiative’, the residents noted that extending it and as such implementing same will end malaria related infections in the area. Speaking exclusively to www.mywordfmonline.com, the residents noted that the vaccine has come to end the era of spending valuable resources and time in battling malaria infections.
In what appears like a health-testimony-sharing symposium, Mrs. Felicia Asamyire who said her daughter (Asamyire Vera) just completed her vaccination regiment, passionately pleaded with authorities to extend the program. “I used to send my first child to the hospital for malaria treatment all the time but since the introduction of the malaria vaccine, I have not send my second child to the hospital. When my child took the first dose, she didn’t feel anything. She looks healthy and better. I wish the program should be continued. I am pleading with government not to stop the program”.
At the Mirigu Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound, a resident, Madam Akanbonga Felicia disclosed to Word News how the malaria vaccine saved her child “my child – Azinanam Fulbert used to experienced fever frequently, but after taking the vaccine, the child has never recorded any malaria case”.
Caregivers expressed profound happiness with the level at which health had improved in the area following the commencement of the malaria vaccine piloting program. “Of late, the hustle of trekking to seek health care has become a thing of the past. We are calling on authorities to consider continuing the program.” They unanimously pleaded.
Echoing the testimonies of the residents, the Kasena Nankana West District Director of Health Services, Mr Hypolite Yeleduor noted that as one of the malaria interventions, the vaccine has come to reduce mobility and mortality especially with children under five years, beside other interventions such as the distribution of the insecticide mosquito nets, intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnancy as well as the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention.
Mr Hypolite also noted that the enrollment of the vaccine started with challenges but expressed his happiness at the fast rate at which residents, especially the women folk are endorsing and embracing the program.
Available statistics indicates that more than 778 children in the Kasena Nankana West District has completed the final dose covering a period of May through to December, 2019. In an estimated targeted population of 2,304 children, only 1797 children turned up for the first malaria vaccine The figure trickled down from 1797 to 1525 in the RTS2. The third RTS3, Word News is told, went down to a disappointing figure of 1167 as a result of some women relocating to untraceable locations.
The Upper East Regional malaria focal person, Mr. Sidney Abilba explained that the on-going piloted Malaria vaccine program coupled with some interventions such as; the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, the distribution of the Insecticide treated bed nets, and the intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnant women is manifesting in the general malaria situation in the Upper East Region.
In 2019, the Upper East Region recorded a total of 556,676 general malaria cases. The figure is said to have reduced to 487925. Out Patient Department (OPD) malaria cases among children under five in the Kasena Nankana West district significantly reduced from 54.6 in 2019 to 49.0 owing to some major interventions.
“We are making progress, once everybody can adhere to the malaria interventions that are in the system, talking of sleeping under the mosquito nets and then also adhering to some of the preventive treatment like ITP. Pregnant women are given SP when they are 16 weeks old into their pregnancies till delivery and then also we have the SMC, which is targeted for the vulnerable group; that is children under five years. We hope to see the OPD malaria cases further reduced. So as a region, we are making little gains but we are hoping that things will improve and get better” Mr. Sidney noted.
Mr. Sidney Abilba also pleaded with parents and caregivers to embrace and support the interventions that are being rolled out by the Ghana Health Services so as to reduce the severity of the disease, specifically among the vulnerable group. “When there is a reduction in severe malaria cases, there is always the likelihood that we won’t lose any child due to malaria so the number of malaria deaths will reduce drastically, because through these interventions the severity of the condition will reduce and cases well managed and we won’t have any death. We saw that in 2020 where we had no death and we want to maintain that and do better” he postulated.
Gaspard Ayuureneeya/ word FM
