GHANA TO RECEIVE H1N1 VACCINES FROM WHO (BACK PAGE, DEC 16)

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) is to supply Ghana with 2.4 million doses of H1N1 vaccines in February 2010 as a contingency measure to deal with reported cases of the influenza.
When delivered, the vaccines will benefit only 10 per cent of the country’s population. They will be given to health workers, community-based surveillance volunteers, pregnant women, security personnel at the borders and people with chronic ailments whose immune systems are very weak.
The Upper West Regional Disaster Surveillance Officer of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Mr Jacob Kojo Aleeba, who gave the hint, said the country was yet to come up with any form of vaccine to counter the pandemic in case of an unexpected outbreak.
“The vaccines are not on our market. They are also very expensive and so even if one has the money, it will be difficult getting them,” he stated.
Mr Aleeba was speaking at a day’s sensitisation workshop on H1N1 influenza in Wa.
The workshop was organised by the GHS for representatives from various media houses, the security agencies and some health workers.
On the outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM), he said the health directorate did not have any vaccine to combat the disease and was working tirelessly to prevent its total occurrence in the region.
He, therefore, entreated the populace to sleep in well-ventilated rooms and take in more water when the heat set in early next year.
In a presentation, the Medical Officer in charge of the Nandom Hospital, Dr Richard Seme-Wodah, pointed out that the region was yet to record any case of the H1N1 influenza since its outbreak.
He, however, added that in the case of suspected cases of the influenza, samples had been taken from victims to be tested, saying, “With the onset of the harmattan, we are likely to have cases of the H1N1 in this region.”
He mentioned some of the symptoms that led to early detection of the pandemic as sore throat, coughing and sneezing.
Dr Seme-Wodah , therefore, stressed the need for a thorough public sensitisation to the H1N1 pandemic, adding, “We must observe stringent hygienic practices, such as the regular washing of hands, the use of tissue when sneezing and coughing, among other measures.”