TTH is reported to have recorded 5 suspected deaths from measles
The Head of Paediatrics and Child Health at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Professor Alhassan Abdul Mumin is reported to have said that the facility has recorded five suspected measles deaths.
“The only reason we’re still calling it a suspected case is because we don’t have the lab results until now.”
“We have five cases admitted with suspected measles. The suspected measles has all the features that would be documented for a child or patient with measles,” said multiple media reports.
Commenting on the matter, Builsa South Member of Parliament Dr Clement Apaak said the government should be held responsible for the deaths of the babies.
He tweeted on Friday March 10 that “Sad! Five babies have reportedly died in the Northern Territory of suspected measles due to a nationwide shortage of vaccines to immunize babies.
“But the NADAA/Bawumia NPP government has not told us when to expect the vaccine. This is another example of the sad but true state of our nation!
“Government should be held accountable for the deaths of these babies. Government has a responsibility to protect citizens/ensure basic needs are met. This is why citizens pay taxes/give government control over resources. When government fails to do what is required, there are consequences .
Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu earlier said that for the avoidance of doubt, there have been no deaths from the recent spike in Measles cases recorded.
He added that no one has died since 2003 even though the country records cases every year.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, March 7, on the vaccine shortage, Central Member of Parliament Dormaa said the lack of a new vaccine for measles, which he regretted, is a symptom of the global decline in measles vaccination that has been ongoing since the past. the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic.
“Let me quote from a recent publication by the World Health Organization (WHO) on a topic that puts the challenges we face into perspective: The Ghanaian Ministry of Health has made efforts to secure adequate stocks of vaccines despite this global challenge.
“We have made every effort to ensure that despite these challenges, we will have enough stock in the next few weeks. It is important to correct the false impression that someone has died of Measles in Ghana recently. For the avoidance of doubt, no one deaths from the recent surge in Measles cases There have been absolutely no deaths since 2003 even though we have recorded cases every year.
“Finally, despite these challenges, Ghana’s immunization performance coverage remains the best in the world. By 2021, we are recording 95% coverage.
“Working with UNICEF, we are fast-tracking the process and it is expected that the vaccine will be provided in the next few weeks All things being equal. The Ministry of Health will ensure that we stay on track with immunization records and quickly overcome these bottlenecks,” he said.
READ ALSO: Ato Forson case: Agyeman-Manu failed to appear in court
On Tuesday, March 7, some breastfeeding mothers revealed how the lack of vaccines is affecting their babies.
A nursing mother at the Adabraka Polyclinic in Accra, Naa Dromo Torto told Judith Awortwe-Tandoh on TV3 on Tuesday, March 7, that her 4-month-old baby has not received the polio vaccine for two consecutive months.
He said, “Some mothers gave birth last month and they haven’t got the vaccine, this month we didn’t get it either, so I think the babies are at high risk of developing defects.”
Asked what guarantee they gave him to vaccinate the baby, he said “Last month, they actually told me that the vaccine was finished this month, Today we also hear the same story that there is still a shortage.”
Another mother Georgina Annum said, “My baby is 9 months old. My baby needs to take two vaccines, Polio and Yellow Fever but there is a shortage, so now we are waiting for the nurse to provide some for us. It has been two months since my baby did not take these two vaccines.
Parts of the country have recently experienced vaccine shortages.
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana
Read the Full Story
Advertise Here contact advertisement[@]ghheadlines.com