The Kassena Nankana West District in the Upper East has recorded 2,871 children under five malaria cases with one death for the year 2022.
According to Mr. Edmound Mohammed Nellic, the district director of Ghana health services, about 2,308 children have been given the first dose of the malaria vaccine while for the second dose, 2,212 children were given. 2443 children took the third dose and 1,236 children were also vaccinated for the fourth dose.
Mr Eric Abugri, the in-charge at the Mirigu Community Health Planning Services CHPS noted that the facility used to record high severe malaria cases for children under five, but with the introduction of the malaria vaccine, it has helped to reduce the high numbers.
“it has helped in reducing the malaria cases under five, those days, they used to come with severe malaria but for now the few one that comes are simple. so we don’t get severe for under five, those days we used to get severe case, some come with convulsion and anaemia in addition to severe malaria but for now, those coming are at the moderate stage”.
He added that their biggest challenge has to do with most parents and caregivers not being able to complete the final dose of the vaccine due to the time frame for the vaccine.
The Kandiaga health center has also recorded the lowest number of children enrolled onto the malaria vaccine due to the conflict between Doba and Kandiaga leading to most of the women fleeing out of the community and some women also traveled to Tumu to support farmers there harvest their farm produce.
The facility recorded 74 children taking the first dose, as 68 children took the second dose. 55 children took the third dose with 24 children completing the fourth dose.
Source: mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Ayuureneeya