The Ashanti Region has recorded eight polio cases in six districts, more than any region in the country since the beginning of this year.
The cases, all vaccine-derived polio virus Type Two represent more than 80 per cent of 12 cases recorded nationwide.
Though health authorities will not give details of affected districts, they say the situation calls for public support as it rolls out an ambiguous three-day immunisation programme targeting about 1.2 million children under five-years.
"The Ashanti Region recently recorded in six districts in what we call vaccine-derived poliovirus Type Two. And in accordance with established protocol, the region, together with other regions in the country would be embarking on massive polio immunization exercise," Deputy Regional Health Director in charge of Public Health, Dr Yaw Ofori Yeboah told the media in Kumasi.
The situation has prompted health authorities to roll out a three-day immunisation programme across the Region from September 10 to 13..
Deputy Regional Health Director in charge of Public Health, Dr. Yaw Ofori Yeboah asked parents to avail their children under 5-years for administration of safe vaccine in all 43-districts of the Ashanti region.
"The focus would be for children under the age of five-years. In Ashanti region, we would be targeting 1,184,860 children aged below five-years."
The affected districts are said to be areas noted for low immunization and insanitary conditions.
Dr. Ofori Yeboah admits the advent of Covid-19 which has affected routine health services in the region could be blamed for the situation.
He want all hands on deck to kick start the immunization exercise.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation says some polioviruses have been discovered in Greater Accra and Eastern region.
Immunization Officer, Fred Osei Sarpong revealed poliovirus were found in environmental sewage in those areas and speak of investigations into the virus.
"What we are also doing is aside from the fact that the virus can infect an individual and get that individual paralyzed; the virus is usually in the environment so, in order to satisfy ourselves that we don't have the virus with us, we do pick samples from environmental sewage, send to the lab and then we test."
Latest Stories
-
CAF Cup: RS Berkane banned from entering Algeria because of a map of Morocco with its Sahara
6 mins -
The media isn’t doing what is expected of journalism – Sulemana Braimah
20 mins -
Truck driver who caused train accident jailed 6 months
30 mins -
Music review: Okyeame Kwame proves rap dexterity on ‘No Competition’
36 mins -
How a 23-year-old fooled the internet with an AI Kendrick Lamar diss track
57 mins -
No man should be intimidated by the strength of a woman – Charlotte Oduro
60 mins -
Ghana is not immune to terrorist attack – National Security
1 hour -
WAFU B U-17 Championship: Ghana drawn in Group A, face Benin and Cote d’Ivoire
1 hour -
Two hit by stray bullet as Police clash with ‘wee smokers’
2 hours -
Okyeame Kwame aims for another Artiste of the Year win after 15 years
2 hours -
NAGRAT gives government one-week ultimatum to redeem unpaid pensions for 700,000 workers
2 hours -
Deloitte launches Technology, Media and Telecom predictions for 2024
2 hours -
Meta AI expands to Ghana, Nigeria and other countries in Africa; adds new features
2 hours -
GPL: Expect a new Kotoko against Samartex – Ogum tells fans
3 hours -
Court orders service of notice for DNA test to Mohbad’s wife
3 hours