(Bolgatanga, Ghana, 5 May, 2014) - The Honourable Minister for Health, Ms Sherry Ayittey launched the 10th anniversary of  the Child Health Promotion Week (CHPW) on Friday May 2, 2014 at The Jubilee Park, at Bolgatanga, the regional capital of the Upper East Region. The week is being observed concurrently with the 4th African Vaccination Week. A colourful crowd of traditional rulers and a cross-section of the public was in   attendance.

The function was also addressed by the UNICEF Ghana's Country Representative (Ms Susan Namondo Ngongi). Other partners present included WHO, USAID, Birth and Deaths registry, etc. Were also in attendance other high profile officials including the Regional Minister for Upper East, Regional Director of Health Services  of the region, the deputy Director-General of Ghana Health Services (GHS) and the Coordinator of the Child Health Services and the Regional Director of Health Services of the Northern Region. Other dignitaries including the traditional and religious leaders of the region also graced the ceremony with their presence.

The Regional Minister, Dr Ephraim Avea Nsoh, gave a welcome address followed by an overview of the 10 years of CHPW in Ghana by the deputy-Director General of GHS, Dr. Gloria Quansah. In her speech, the Minister for health said that the country made great achievements in the child health sector with no case reported for polio since 2008 and for measles since 2002 while a dramatic decrease in malaria cases among children was also noted. She further added that Ghana increased the immunization of children under two years, with more children being supplemented with vitamin A and more caretakers using bed nets. However, Ms Sherry Ayittey indicated that the country has been stagnating with a neonatal mortality of 32/1,000 live births since 2011.

To take up the challenges, the Minister pledged, among others, government's commitment to construct additional 15 Community Health Promotion compounds (CHPs) in the Upper East Region to accelerate child health services. The new CHPs would be supported, she emphasized, by the training of more physicians and physician assistants who would have direct contact with mothers and clients in the communities as a way of improving services.

Speaking on behalf of all Development Partners, the UNICEF Ghana's Country Representative, Ms Susan Namondo Ngongi, said Ghana is to be commended for the strides taken in the area of under 5 mortality. She, however, indicated that it is an “unfinished business”. For Ms Ngongi, 32,000 children still die before their first birthday and an acceleration of efforts is needed to save the precious babies. She said the early years constitute danger both for the mother and the child. However there is good news, she asserted, with vaccination it is feasible to prevent the child health related diseases. The African Vaccination Week, she said, represents a platform to create awareness among communities as immunization saves lives. To respond to community’s demand, managers need accurate data for planning purposes. In this regards, still a huge number of children remain unregistered. That is why she found that the theme chosen for this year’s edition for the Child Health promotion was timely: “Unite to safe the newborns: a promise renewed.

From May 5-9, 2014 all districts are expected to intensify the delivery of integrated child survival interventions such as Vitamin A supplementation, immunization, growth monitoring, insecticide treated-net for under 5s and birth registration of children under one year at all health facilities.

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Contact Persons:

Mr Stanley DIAMENU, EPI Focal Person, WHO Ghana Office

Phone: +233 26 744 42 99; Email: diamenus [at] who.int
Mr Crépin Hilaire DADJO, Communication Officer, WHO/IST West

Phone: +233 26 398 29 39; Email: dadjoh [at] who.int