By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu
Sege, May 13, GNA – Dr Stephen Arthur, the Ada West District Education Director, has advised parents and guardians against preventing their children from receiving vaccinations and deworming tablets administered at schools.
Dr Arthur described parents’ refusal to give their consent for such vaccination exercises as detrimental for the health of the pupils.
Dr Arthur, who chaired the launch of the African Vaccination and Child Health Promotion Week at Sege, expressed concern over the growing perception among some parents that vaccines and deworming tablets were harmful.
He emphasised that such beliefs were misleading and posed danger to the health and well-being of children.
He stressed the importance of vaccination and deworming in preventing childhood diseases and promoting long-term health; therefore, the need for parents to support
the exercise and allow their children to benefit from government-led health initiatives, especially those conducted in schools.
Dr Arthur said there was an instance where a child was given the dewormer, and he instantly vomited a live worm, adding that nobody knew what would have happened if the child had not been given the medicine.
He explained that many children had died because they were not vaccinated, and their parents might end up blaming their deaths on witches and spiritual attacks, even though it might be far from that.
The African Vaccination and Child Health Promotion Week is aimed at increasing awareness on the need for immunisation and other health interventions across the continent, particularly among children.
Health professionals, education stakeholders, parents, and community leaders who attended the event, which included educational talks and outreach programmes to boost participation in the week-long initiative, described it as a welcoming initiative.
Prophet Daniel Djanie, who doubles as a herbal doctor, appealed for a child welfare (weighing) centre to be built on the outskirts of Sege, to enhance access to regular care for children in those areas.
GNA
LS/CAA