Ghana launches polio campaigns despite the challenges of COVID-19

In the face of the challenges posed by the pandemic, Ghana is working to protect 4.5 million at-risk children from polio through the launch of two polio vaccination campaigns. Here’s a closer look at those efforts for World Polio Day.

23 October 2020
2 min read
by Elinore Court
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<article> <h1> <span>Ghana launches polio campaigns despite the challenges of COVID-19</span> </h1> <div><p>In the face of the challenges posed by the pandemic, Ghana is working to protect 4.5 million at-risk children from polio through the launch of two polio vaccination campaigns. Here’s a closer look at those efforts for World Polio Day.</p> </div> <ul> <li> <b>23 October 2020</b> </li> <li> <b class="me-2">by</b> <span> <a href="https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/authors/elinore-court" hreflang="en">Elinore Court</a> </span> </li> </ul> <div> <div> <span data-type="column" data-id="88221"></span> <div> <div> <div> <div> <p>The Republic of Ghana’s decade-long polio-free status came to halt in July 2019, when laboratory investigations confirmed the existence of poliovirus in the environment and later in a young girl in the Chereponi District in the Northern Region. To date, approximately 31 children in Ghana have been paralysed due to polio.</p> <p>Beginning in August 2019, UNICEF in Ghana has been supporting the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to implement several polio vaccination campaigns to ensure that all children who have been missed are reached with life-saving vaccines.</p> <p>Despite the <a href="https://www.unicef.org/media/83436/file/Ghana-COVID-19-SitRep-22-September-2020.pdf">challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic</a> in Ghana, the Health Promotion Department of the Ghana Health Service, the World Health Organization and UNICEF in Ghana embarked on <a href="https://www.unicef.org/ghana/stories/fighting-polio-covid-19-context">two rounds of vaccination campaigns to combat polio</a>. Targeting more than 4.5 million children, these campaigns took place from 10-13 September (Round 1) and 8-11 October (Round 2).</p> <h3>UNICEF’s support has been crucial in these areas:</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Social mobilisation</strong> – reaching community members with information through house-to-house visits and SMS to raise awareness among parents and caregivers of the campaign, of the existence of poliovirus, of the importance of preventing the diseases through vaccination, of keeping the environment clean, and of practicing good hygiene.</li> <li><strong>Vaccine management</strong> – working with partners to monitor vaccine storage capacity, reduce wastage, forecast vaccine requirements and prevent breakdowns in the supply chain.</li> <li><strong>Communication</strong> – Through its social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and traditional media (print, radio and television), UNICEF has been educating the general public with key messages on preventing polio, campaign dates and partners. Messages have been designed to address rumors on the safety of vaccines.</li> </ul> <p>In August 2020, Gavi supported the Ghana Health Service by providing 2,343 vaccine fridges, which have been distributed across various health centers in the country – serving as a significant component in vaccine storage during the Rounds 1 & 2 campaigns.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <span data-type="column" data-id="88231"></span> </div> <div> <div> <h2>See their journey</h2> <div> <ul><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33438_Photo-1_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="UNICEF Communication for Development Officer, Charity Nikoi checks on cold chain equipment and vaccine storage at the Pepease Health Centre in the Kwahu East District of the Eastern Region on 8 October 2020. ©UNICEF/ANNANKRA" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33439_Photo-2_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="UNICEF Communication for Development Officer, Charity Nikoi waits on the bank of the Afram River with Health Officer, Francis Teye in Sempoa in the Eastern Region. The team were preparing to cross the river to reach children on the other side on 8 October 2020. ©UNICEF/ANNANKRA" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33440_Photo-3_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="UNICEF Communication for Development Officer, Charity Nikoi checks on cold chain equipment and vaccine storage at the Koforidua Polyclinic in the Eastern Region on 9 October 2020. ©UNICEF/ANNANKRA" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33441_Photo-4_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="A group of vaccinators prepare to disperse for house-to-house visits in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region on 10 September 2020. ©UNICEF/ACQUAH" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33442_Photo-5_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="958" alt="A UNICEF team in Tumu in the Upper West Region seeks alternative routes to reach children when they come across an unmotorable road on 11 September 2020. ©UNICEF/BUTA" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33443_Photo-6_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="A UNICEF team in Tumu in the Upper West Region seeks alternative routes to reach children when they come across an unmotorable road on 11 September 2020. ©UNICEF/BUTA" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33444_Photo-7_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="A vaccine fridge provided by Gavi in a health centre in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region on 12 September 2020. ©UNICEF/PAPPOE" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33445_Photo-8_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="Vaccine fridges provided by Gavi in a health centre in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region on 12 September 2020. ©UNICEF/PAPPOE" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33446_Photo-9_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="UNICEF Supply and Procurement Officer, Pharoah Semanyhia, working with partners to ensure that supplies for the Round 1 of the polio vaccination campaign in the Volta Region have been distributed on 9 September 2020. ©UNICEF/MILLS" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33447_Photo-10_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="A vaccination and monitoring team in the Volta Region set out to reach children on the first day of Round 1 of the polio vaccination campaign on 10 September 2020 ©UNICEF/MILLS" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33448_Photo-11_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="Supplies for vaccination teams ready for distribution in the Volta Region on 8 September 2020. ©UNICEF/MILLS" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33449_Photo-12_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="UNICEF officials Pharoah Semanhyia and Antoinette Gyan inspect vaccine carriers at a health centre in the Volta Region before the start of the Round 1 vaccination campaign on 9 September 2020. ©UNICEF/MILLS" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33450_Photo-13_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="UNICEF Health and Nutrition Officer, Porbilla Ofosu-Apea on a house visit to monitor awareness of the polio vaccination campaign in the Volta Region on 9 September 2020." loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33451_Photo-15_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="UNICEF officials Ruth Situma and Frank Bukari on a house visit to monitor awareness of the polio vaccination campaign in the Volta Region on 9 September 2020. ©UNICEF/MILLS" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33452_Photo-16_h2.jpg" width="1080" height="720" alt="UNICEF Programme Assistant, Vincent Kotei on a house visit to monitor awareness of the polio vaccination campaign in the Volta Region on 9 September 2020. ©UNICEF/MILLS" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33453_Photo-17_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="958" alt="UNICEF driver Joseph Houndebesso on a house-to-house visit to monitor awareness of the polio vaccination campaign in the Volta Region on 9 September 2020. ©UNICEF/MILLS" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33454_Photo-18_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="961" alt="Douglas Acheampong, manager of the Ashanti Regional Cold Room, where thousands of vaccines are stored before being distributed to various districts and health centres on 8 September 2020. ©UNICEF/ACQUAH" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33455_Photo-19_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="961" alt="A poster showing information on the Rounds 1 & 2 polio vaccination campaigns at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, on 9 September 2020. ©UNICEF/ACQUAH" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33456_Photo-20_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="961" alt="Priscilla Baffoe, the Principal Community Health Nurse at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, speaking to mothers about the upcoming house-to-house visits for the polio vaccination campaign on 8 September 2020. ©UNICEF/ACQUAH" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33457_Photo-21_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="961" alt="UNICEF Chief of Health and Nutrition, Dr Mrunal Shetye, inspecting vaccines in the cold room of the Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, ahead of the campaign on 8 September 2020. ©UNICEF/ACQUAH" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33458_Photo-23_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="961" alt="A volunteer walks through the Kotokuom community in the Ashanti Region to reach children who have not yet received the polio vaccine on 11 September 2020. ©UNICEF/ACQUAH" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33459_Photo-24_h2.jpg" width="1080" height="1620" alt="Letitia smiles after her children, Peter and Abigail, received the polio vaccine in North Dayi in the Volta Region on 11 September 2020. ©UNICEF/MILLS" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33460_Photo-26_h2.jpg" width="1080" height="718" alt="A young boy shows off his marked finger signifying that he has been vaccinated against poliovirus on 7 October 2020. ©UNICEF/BUTA" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33461_Photo-27_h2.jpg" width="1080" height="720" alt="A volunteer marks the fingers of children who have been vaccinated in Assin Fosu in the Central Region on 10 October 2020. ©UNICEF/BUTA" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33462_Photo-28_h2.jpg" width="1080" height="720" alt="Two children in their home smile at the camera after being vaccinated against poliovirus. Behind them, their house has been marked to show that it was visited during the Rounds 1 & 2 of the campaign on 12 October 2020. ©UNICEF/BUTA" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33463_Photo-29_h2.jpg" width="1080" height="720" alt="A volunteer marks the finger of child who has been vaccinated against poliovirus in Assin Fosu in the Central Region on 10 October 2020. ©UNICEF/BUTA" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33464_Photo-31_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="A child receives the polio vaccine in Sempoa in the Eastern Region on 8 October 2020. ©UNICEF/ANNANKRA" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33465_Photo-32_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="A child receives the polio vaccine in Kitase in the Eastern Region on 10 October 2020. ©UNICEF/ANNANKRA" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33466_Photo-33_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="UNICEF Health Specialist, Felix Osei-Sarpong marks the finger of a child who has just received the polio vaccine in Kitase in the Eastern Region on 10 October 2020. ©UNICEF/ANNANKRA" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33467_Photo-34_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="960" alt="UNICEF Health Officer, Josephine Agborson, inspects vaccine vials at the Berekuso Health Centre in the Eastern Region on 10 October 2020. ©UNICEF/ANNANKRA" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33468_Photo-35_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="1015" alt="A child receives the polio vaccine in Koforidua in the Eastern Region on 9 October 2020. ©UNICEF/ANNANKRA" loading="lazy"> </li></ul> </div> <div> <span class="btn js-btn -white">Load more</span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/ghana-launches-polio-campaigns-despite-challenges-of-covid-19">Original article</a> </p><p>This article was originally published on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork">VaccinesWork</a> </p><script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-M7H54VD');</script><noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-M7H54VD" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript></article>

©UNICEF/ACQUAH

The Republic of Ghana’s decade-long polio-free status came to halt in July 2019, when laboratory investigations confirmed the existence of poliovirus in the environment and later in a young girl in the Chereponi District in the Northern Region. To date, approximately 31 children in Ghana have been paralysed due to polio.

Beginning in August 2019, UNICEF in Ghana has been supporting the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to implement several polio vaccination campaigns to ensure that all children who have been missed are reached with life-saving vaccines.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana, the Health Promotion Department of the Ghana Health Service, the World Health Organization and UNICEF in Ghana embarked on two rounds of vaccination campaigns to combat polio. Targeting more than 4.5 million children, these campaigns took place from 10-13 September (Round 1) and 8-11 October (Round 2).

UNICEF’s support has been crucial in these areas:

Social mobilisation – reaching community members with information through house-to-house visits and SMS to raise awareness among parents and caregivers of the campaign, of the existence of poliovirus, of the importance of preventing the diseases through vaccination, of keeping the environment clean, and of practicing good hygiene.
Vaccine management – working with partners to monitor vaccine storage capacity, reduce wastage, forecast vaccine requirements and prevent breakdowns in the supply chain.
Communication – Through its social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and traditional media (print, radio and television), UNICEF has been educating the general public with key messages on preventing polio, campaign dates and partners. Messages have been designed to address rumors on the safety of vaccines.

In August 2020, Gavi supported the Ghana Health Service by providing 2,343 vaccine fridges, which have been distributed across various health centers in the country – serving as a significant component in vaccine storage during the Rounds 1 & 2 campaigns.