The call for critical attention to the country's immunization financing and programs to reduce zero-dose children and eliminate preventable deaths has been echoed by various stakeholders. Nancy Ansah, the Director of Programmes at Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), emphasized the importance of increasing domestic resource mobilization for immunization financing to sustain the gains made in vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) coverage since 1972.
The capacity-building workshop held in Tuobodom, Techiman North District, Bono East Region, organized by HFFG and funded by Global Health Advocacy Incubator, aimed at implementing the Financing Immunization Advocacy Response (FAIR) project. This project seeks to advocate for increased domestic resource mobilization and accountability for results in reaching zero-dose children and increasing immunization coverage.
Nancy Ansah highlighted the significance of government support in mobilizing domestic resources for immunization financing to ensure the availability of vaccines and logistical support for immunization activities consistently. The workshop also focused on raising awareness about new vaccines such as those for malaria and cervical cancer, intending to equip participants, particularly queenmothers who wield significant influence in rural communities, to educate their communities and encourage vaccine uptake.
Cervical cancer, being the second most frequent cancer among women in the country, was also addressed during the workshop. Mrs. Ansah stressed the importance of government support for screening and treatment centers at district and sub-district levels due to the disease's significant impact.
Jacob Monokpa, the Techiman North District Director of Health, expressed concern over low turnout for vaccination programs in the area, citing parents' inability to bring their children due to farming activities. He hoped that engagements with queenmothers and other stakeholders would help address this issue and called on men to support their wives in ensuring children receive vaccinations and attend antenatal care.
Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare, acknowledged the critical role of vaccine programs in eliminating diseases and saving children's lives. She appealed to the government to ensure the sustainability of vaccine programs post-GAVI exit, emphasizing the need for measures to fill the funding gap left by the exit of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) to protect gains made in reducing mortality and morbidity from vaccine-preventable conditions.
