Health authorities in the Volta Region have raised concerns over the decline in child immunisation coverage in the first quarter of 2025, which could serve as a fertile ground for the outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases.

At a stakeholders’ engagement/first quarter Risk Communication sub-Committee meeting organised by the Volta Regional Health Directorate in Ho, the Regional EPI (Expanded Programme on Immunization) Coordinator, Emmanuel Bonsu, revealed that overall vaccination coverage for key antigens such as Penta 3 and MR2 has declined in most districts compared to the same period last year.

For instance, Penta 3 coverage in the region dropped from 78.4 per cent in early 2024 to 70.8 per cent in 2025. Similarly, MR2 coverage reduced from 70.2 per cent to 69.3 per cent. Districts such as Ho, Anloga, and Ketu South saw particularly sharp decreases, raising red flags among health officials.

Mr. Bonsu attributed the downward trend to several factors, including inadequate staffing due to high attrition, limited funding for outreach services in remote communities, and community engagement.

“This is a wake-up call,” he said. “We need urgent action to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases from resurfacing in our communities.”

The presentation also spotlighted the African Vaccination Week (AVW) and Child Health Promotion Week (CHPW), celebrated annually in April and May respectively.

These initiatives, supported by WHO and Ghana Health Service, aim to intensify immunisation efforts, promote nutrition, growth monitoring, and birth registration among children.

Under the theme “Every Child Deserves a Healthy Future; Invest in Your Child. Attend ‘Weighing’ Regularly,” the CHPW will deliver services such as deworming, Vitamin A supplementation, insecticide-treated net promotion, and school-based health screenings.

To address the immunisation gaps, Mr. Bonsu proposed strengthening routine immunisation systems, increasing support for hard-to-reach areas, engaging civil society organizations, and conducting mop-up campaigns for children who missed vaccinations.

Health stakeholders pledged to boost advocacy, mobilization, and resource allocation to ensure no child is left behind in the region’s immunization drive.