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Theresa Osei Tutu, former deputy governor of Rotary International's Polio Plus National Committee, said on Wednesday that the fight against polio in Ghana requires stronger political and societal engagement.
She said that "while the world is celebrating World Immunization Week, we are at 99.9%, but reaching 0.1% requires stronger political and social commitment".
Ms. Osei Tutu told the Ghana News Agency after unveiling two "End Polio Now" billboards featuring two musical artists, to commemorate World Immunization Week.
The display panels with the effigy of local musicians Samini and Okyeame Kwame are planted opposite Brennan House-National Lotteries and each other at Efua Sutherland Children's Park.
The Rotary Club of Accra – Airport, in collaboration with the Ghanaian National Committee Polio Plus, has built the billboards that aim to celebrate the tenth anniversary of a polio – free Ghana.
According to Ms. Osei Tutu, polio remains Rotary's number one project and will remain so until the world is totally free of polio.
She explained that the polio was caused by non-attendants at the antenatal clinic, unsuccessful abortion and poor nutrition, while some traditions had the unscientific notion that polio was also caused by juju (black magic).
She was optimistic that the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was implementing strategies and tactics to improve immunization coverage and reach more children than ever before.
Ms. Osei Tutu said that Rotary and its partners have protected more than 2.5 billion children from polio.
Mr. Emmanuel Andrews, nicknamed "Samini" under his stage name, expressed his gratitude through the GNA by giving him the opportunity to become a polio ambbadador.
"I am grateful to have the opportunity to participate and not only to be a performing artist, but also to support the project and willing to give my full support to the success of the project. ", did he declare.
Celebrated the last week of April, World Immunization Week aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against the disease.
Immunization saves millions of lives every year and is widely recognized as one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions in the world.
Yet, there are still nearly 20 million unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children in the world.
The theme of this year's campaign is "Protected Together: The Vaccine Works" and will celebrate the heroes of the vaccine around the world – from parents to community members, to health workers and innovators – who contribute to the protection of all, at all ages. , thanks to the power of vaccines.
The theme also aims to raise awareness of the importance of lifelong immunization and to encourage more vigorous action.
The campaign focuses on the role and responsibility of everyone – policymakers, health workers and individuals – in narrowing the immunization gap to protect children and broader communities.
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