Ghana Health Service Launches Mpox Vaccination Campaign in Takoradi

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has officially launched a sub-national vaccination campaign against Mpox in Takoradi, targeting the Western Region, the area hardest hit by the recent outbreak.

The campaign, spearheaded by the GHS in collaboration with development partners, aims to curb the spread of the disease by vaccinating contacts of confirmed cases and residents in communities with high transmission rates. The exercise will be conducted over a 21-day period.

Speaking at the launch, the Western Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Marion Okoh Owusu welcomed the Acting Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, and his team, expressing her appreciation for the ongoing support and resources made available to the region.

Dr. Frank Lule, a representative from the World Health Organization Ghana Office, who represented the Country Representative, commended the government for its swift response and decisive action in deploying the vaccine. “The initiative to launch the Mpox vaccine in Takoradi is a vital step toward protecting citizens. The deployment of the vaccine, along with other interventions, will help bring the outbreak under control,” he stated.

According to regional health authorities, the Western Region has so far recorded 299 confirmed Mpox cases and 1,109 identified contacts. Of the 14 districts in the region, 13 have reported confirmed cases, with 59 active cases currently under management. Sadly, two deaths have been recorded as a result of the outbreak.

The vaccination teams will focus efforts on communities with high transmission rates and will prioritize contacts of confirmed cases.
Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Ag. Director General of Ghana Health Service expressed optimism about the campaign and reassured the public of the government’s commitment to ending the outbreak. “I am glad the vaccines have finally arrived and are being deployed in phases, starting with the Western Region.

We will not rest until Mpox is contained, and our people are safe,” he declared.
He also extended sympathy to families affected by the disease and emphasized the government’s dedication to supporting them during this critical time.

The campaign will be accompanied by intensified risk communication and community engagement activities aimed at encouraging the public to take preventive measures and dispel misinformation about the vaccine.

As the campaign unfolds, the Ghana Health Service urges all eligible individuals to participate in the vaccination drive and adhere to public health guidelines to help end the spread of Mpox.