Accra: Mr. Daniel Adu Asomaning, the Monitoring, Evaluation and Safety Officer for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has called upon traditional leaders, particularly queenmothers, to harness their influence to promote Ghana's immunisation efforts within their communities to ensure the achievement of set targets.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Asomaning emphasized the significant impact traditional leaders have in communities during a training workshop held in Accra for 50 selected queenmothers from the southern regions of the country. He highlighted their critical role in debunking myths surrounding vaccinations and immunisations. He urged the queenmothers to advocate that immunisation is an investment in the future of children, rather than an expenditure.
The workshop, organized by the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health (GCNH) and the GHS, aimed to equip the traditional leaders with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively educate their communities about the importance of immunisations. The training also addressed the long-standing myths that had hindered vaccine uptake and focused on strengthening the capacity of queenmothers to educate caregivers about routine immunisation for children aged zero to five years.
Discussions during the workshop also included the introduction of the new Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for girls aged eight to 13 years, which is scheduled to launch in September 2025, offering protection against cervical cancer. Mr. Asomaning praised Ghana's immunisation programme as one of the best globally, noting its decentralised processes that ensure vaccines reach every locality. He reassured attendees that all vaccines are safe and free, having undergone thorough research before public release.
Mr. Bright Amissah Nyarko, the National Chairman of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health, spoke on the vital role queenmothers play in Ghanaian communities. He emphasized their respected status and contribution to sustaining health-related social activities across the country. The training aimed to empower queenmothers in over 10,000 communities spanning 100 districts to effectively implement outreach programmes, with funds allocated to support their efforts.
Highlighting the current pandemic era, marked by COVID-19 and M-Pox, Mr. Nyarko stressed the importance of equipping queenmothers to educate communities, particularly mothers and young girls. Mama Atrato II, Queenmother of Ho-Dome in the Asogli State, praised the training as crucial for boosting participation in immunisation programmes. She noted their role in organizing women and children, making them ideal candidates for this training.
Nana Amoako Gyanpah I from Aseseso in the Eastern Region described the training as enlightening, empowering her to counter misconceptions about immunisations within her community. She expressed commitment to working alongside nurses to increase vaccination uptake, asserting that community members heed their guidance when encouraged to receive vaccines.
