The Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, has disclosed mortality rate among children has reduced significantly to nearly 32% nationwide in 2024.
He attributed this feat to a universal health intervention implemented by the Government through the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service.
Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye said this at the launch of the 2024 African Vaccination and Child Health Promotion Week on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
The theme for this year’s week celebration is on the theme “Healthy Childhood: Invest in Your Child for a Better Future”.
Delivering his welcome address, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye, said Ghana has made substantial progress in child mortality reduction with immunization being a major contributor to the achievement. According to him, there has been a drastic reduction in certain diseases like diarrhea, Meningitis, meningococcal, and diphtheria due to the availability of vaccines to combat these diseases. He added that, despite this achievement, the ministry and the GHS are working towards achieving more.
“The infant mortality rate in Ghana as of 2022 was 28 deaths per 1000 births. The Ghana Health Service and its partners continue to provide a comprehensive health package for children including vaccination, and close monitoring. The efforts have seen tremendous results in terms of mobility and deaths among children. There has been a 32% decline in 2024 and this immunization has played a critical role in this achievement among other things,” he stated.
Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare who gave the keynote address reiterated infant and neonatal mortality has reduced over the years, and the Government of Ghana has recognized the importance of vaccines in the well-being of our children, therefore has tasked the Ministry of Health to ensure adequate vaccines are made available for universal coverage.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
