Parents urged to immunise children against polio

Parents of children between infancy and five years have been advised to always ensure that their children are fully immunised against Polio Myelitis, which is a contagious viral disease that causes paralysis, difficulty in breathing, and sometimes death among children.

The Health Director of the Tolon-Kumbungu District, Madam Denisia Agong-Kaara, gave the advice at an intensive training workshop on Polio Immunization, for some Community Based Service Providers at Tolon.

The workshop, which was organised and sponsored by the World Health Organisation (WHO), was under the theme: “Polio Immunisation for Better Health - the Role of Civil Society Organisations.”

Madam Agong-Kaara educated the participants on the polio disease, and described it as one of the most dangerous diseases, particularly among children.

She called on parents to take the periodic National Polio Immunisation Exercise serious, and save the future of their children.

She said Polio Myelitis had ruined the lives of many Ghanaians within the last twenty years, leaving most of its victims paralyzed.

Even though several efforts have been made by successive governments to overcome the menace, there was still the need for more education to completely eradicate the Polio disease from Ghana.

Madam Agong-Kaara disclosed that there had been a significant reduction in the Polio disease in Ghana, but warned against complacency, saying, “A single disease is as dangerous as thousands, since it can completely ruin the life of a person.”

On her part, the Executive Director of WERSD, Hajia Azara Mahamadu, outlined the objectives of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) in promoting formal education in deprived communities, and fighting against diseases that impede the development of women.

She called for child-friendly policies to protect the interest of all children, especially on child health.