Ghana Coalition of NGOs Trains 50 Queen Mothers on Immunization Support

Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health has trained 50 Queen mothers in Ghana, aimed at supporting immunization activities.

The project is run by the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health across 100 districts in Ghana.

Addressing the media after the training session, the President of Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health Mr. Bright Amissah Nyarko emphasized that, the training empowers queen mothers to educate mothers and caregivers about the importance of immunization for children aged 0 to 5 years.

He said, the Queen mothers are highly respected in the community and play a crucial role in sustaining social activities, especially health-related activities. Queen mothers are essential in the community due to their high respect and influence.

“And today we are training about 50 of our Queen mothers to support immunization activities in Ghana, this is important because our Queens, as we know, are highly respected in the community, and they help us to sustain all social activities, that are done in Ghana, especially for health. For this activity, the queens are giving knowledge their capacity is built and empowered to be able to educate the mothers, the caregivers, to send their children, 0-5 years for immunization.” He mentioned.

According to him, the training aims to build the capacity of queen mothers to educate the community about immunization and the new Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine.

He stressed that, the HPV vaccine will be introduced for girls aged 9 to 14 years starting in October. Queen mothers will also educate the community about the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.

“Not withstanding our girls, who are also in school, 9 to 14 years, will be introducing a new vaccine called the Human Papilloma and virus vaccine, which will be given to them from October this year, and they would also start educating them in the communities.”

He underscored the project is sponsored by GAVI, and the goal is to ensure community education continues even after GAVI’s departure.

Mr. Bright Amissah Nyarko said, The Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health aims to create a nation free of disease and ill health, focusing on preventive health measures.

He said, the vaccination is a major strategy to eliminate diseases, especially in the context of ongoing pandemics like COVID-19 and monkey pox.

“ Honestly, you would also agree with me that the Ghana coalition of NGOs and health vision is a nation free of disease and ill health. So anything preventive health is what we are championing. And one major way of eliminating disease in communities is vaccination. We are also in a pandemic era, and then new other pandemic outbreaks and diseases like we experienced COVID and now monkey pox.” He noted.

He indicated that the HPV vaccine will protect girls aged 9 to 14 years from cervical cancer, revealed that, cervical cancer is a significant cause of death among women, with breast cancer being the leading cause.

“ So very soon, Ghana Health Service and the ministry will be launching the human papillomavirus vaccine, what we call the HPV, HPV is going to protect our girls 9 to 14 years from getting cervical cancer.” He announced.

He emphasized that, the vaccine will be added to the existing vaccine schedule for adolescent girls. This will help protect girls from viruses that can lead to cervical cancer through sexual activities or environmental exposure.

“So this is an additional vaccine that will be added onto our vaccine, schedule for our adult girls, 9 years and 14. Girls as they are youthful and adolescent either expose themselves to some sexual activity or even the environment. So they pick these viruses from the environment and through these sexual activities, and with time, the virus leaves with them and destroy their cervix and they get cervical cancer.” Mr. Bright Amissah asserted.

Program Launch and Community Education :

He stated that, the program will be launched in September across the country, with the coalition taking the lead in community education.

He added, the coalition has trained 1000 volunteers and 100 NGOs to support the program in 100 districts.

“ And this program will be launched in October across the country. And coalition is taking the lead in educating the masses of community. By so doing, we’ve been supported to educate communities more than 1000 of them. For that reason, we have trained 1000 volunteers, We have trained 100 NGOs, and are working in 100 districts across the country, including our Queen mothers.” He indicated.