100 child in the northern region of Ghana has contracted measles.

A few days ago, when I visited my friend's house in Ghana, I was surprised to see the neighborhood was so quiet. Upon asking, she told me that the neighborhood kids are sick. However, I wasn’t aware of the whole situation until I visited one of the neighbors in that area. Children who have contracted measles are dealing with the situation. The shortage of baby vaccines in northern Ghana has resulted in over 100 cases of measles recorded as of March 5, 2023, which is a cause for concern.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can have serious health consequences, particularly for infants and young children. Dr. Hilda Mantebea Boye, the president-elect of the Paediatrics Society of Ghana, has reported that over 100 children in the northern region of Ghana have contracted measles.

Due to the Health Ministry's failure to secure the procurement of essential BCG and OPV vaccines since the beginning of the year, Ghana has run out of these crucial vaccines. The BCG vaccine can prevent tuberculosis in infants, while the OPV vaccine can prevent polio infections. These vaccines can protect young children from serious health complications. Vaccines must be widely available to prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

My Thoughts

I hope that steps are taken to address the shortage of baby vaccines nationwide and that all children, especially those in vulnerable communities, are provided with the necessary vaccines to stay healthy and protected. In the meantime, if you see that these vaccines are somehow getting bought and sold in black market at an increased rate then you can always report the incident at POTP. It is a valuable app for citizens' safety. It has features like live tracking and even allows you to contact the agents during emergencies. Further, if you see anyone that needs help, you can raise the request immediately, and the agents will respond in a few seconds.