Family medicine resident at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr. Moses Ofosu Amoako wants stakeholders to ensure that vaccines for immunization are available for all children.

He observed some infants are missing their shots because of the unavailability of vaccines.

“Most of the kids are missing their vaccines at nine months of age and the nine-month vaccine is the vitamin A vaccine. The vitamin A vaccine also prevents eye diseases.

“So, it’s very necessary that stakeholders and those who matter will ensure that the vaccines are always available

“And when they are available there should be prompt and equitable distribution so that the kids can get vaccines for immunization and not miss them,” he said.

He said this at a grand durbar organised by some doctors at the family health directorate of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in collaboration with the Oforikrom municipal health directorate.

His recommendation comes at the back of a research conducted by some doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital as part of their specialist training program on the coverage of vaccination in the Ayigya community.

The results from the research indicated that the community had low coverage of immunization because of unavailable vaccines.

He also encouraged immunization sensitization for expectant mothers.

“All new born mothers should make sure that their children are immunized. The process of immunization should start from when they are nearing their delivery, around nine months.

“That is when the education should start from. So, this education we are given to these mothers should start from their antenatal care towards the end of their pregnancy so that when they are about to give birth, they are been told about what to do,” he said.

The durbar was organised to mark World Immunization day and to educate the community members on the importance of immunization.

This year’s World Immunization Day is under the theme; The Big Catch Up.

The health information officer at the Oforikrom health directorate, Ms. Rosemary Afriyie Barimah observed that some mothers are ignorant of the vaccination status of their children.

She attributes their ignorance to the lack of quality time with their children.

“The study  has revealed that individuals with higher educational levels in the municipality do not know much about immunization but mothers amongst the middle class have knowledge on the immunization process because they have time on their hands and they pay attention to the process.

“The educated ones give their children to either family members or other people to take their children to bring their children to the hospital, she said.

Alhaji Mohammed Bashir Saeed, the Chief of Ayigya Zongo thanked the health personnel for the gesture.

“We have learnt a lot from the doctors and nurses that visited us today, we appreciate the fact they came all the way from their workplaces to educate us, we will also do our part.

“We will inculcate the knowledge you have given us today into our sermons so that all who are not here today can benefit from what you share

“If we spend one and a half our preaching a sermon, we will use half of an hour to teach the others what you have taught us today,” he said.

The durbar saw the attendance of doctors from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, nurses from the Oforikrom municipal health directorate, community members and the Chief of Ayigya Zongo.

A public address system was presented to the municipal health directorate to aid their work.

Other members of the medical team included: Drs. Andaratu Wuni, Marian Pomaa Agyemang, Dennis Dwomoh Nkrumah, and Albert Adusei.