The Ghana Health Service has announced a nationwide vaccination campaign targeting six million children under five years old, following the detection of polio virus type 2 in Koforidua. The campaign will take place in two rounds, aimed at preventing the virus from spreading to humans.
The detection of the type 2 polio virus in September, though no human cases have been recorded, has prompted swift action from health officials. The Eastern Regional Health Director, Winfred Ofosu, highlighted the urgency of the effort:
“We are at a critical stage in the fight against polio, a disease that once struck fear into families worldwide. Polio causes paralysis, lifelong disabilities, and sometimes death, especially in children under five. Thanks to vaccines, we are now closer than ever to eradicating it.”
Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye, Director General of the Ghana Health Service, explained that the campaign’s goal is to strengthen immunity across the population and prevent the virus from spreading from the environment into human populations.
Polio virus type 2, one of three serotypes responsible for poliomyelitis, has been eradicated in most regions of the world. However, it can still resurface in areas with low vaccination coverage and poor sanitation. The virus detected in Koforidua has been traced to a transit case from Algeria.
Ghanaian health authorities are determined to use this vaccination campaign to eliminate the virus from the environment and protect children from this life-threatening disease.