TLF, UNICEF engaged Kintampo on vaccine hesitancy workshop
Research Fellow of Kintampo District Research Center Latifah Alhassan has urged Kintampo residents to ignore myths and fake news about Covid-19, yellow fever and Polio vaccines because Food and Drugs Authority has already approved the Johnson & John, AstraZeneca and other vaccines before the roll out of the national exercise.
UNICEF data shows that a total of over six million lives have been lost globally by Covid-19 with 1000 deaths recorded in Ghana.
According to Latifah Alhassan, vaccine development goes through rigorous processes until it is approved and certified by health experts and Ghana Food and Drugs Authority before vaccination to contain, combat and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Speaking at a workshop to boost the confidence of Kintampo residents towards Covid-19, yellow fever and Polio against hesitancy on Thursday 7 April, 2022 within the Bono East Region, the Biomedical Scientist Latifah Alhassan said “A vaccine goes through several stages, tested on animals, clinical trials are conducted before it is approved for vaccination. The white man has no the intention of killing Africans through manufacturing of vaccines. “.
“The vaccine protects and empower anti-bodies, and immune systems of human beings to battle diseases. Although there are side effects, they are not meant to harm those vaccinated but the body may react because a foreign material has entered your body”, Latifah Alhassan noted.
Contributing to the debates, Health Promotion Officer of Kintampo Municipal Health Directorate Mariam Arthur wants the unvaccinated to get vaccinated because it would finally become the requirement for accessing visa, and other services with the public sector, ministries, departments and agencies. You need the card to travel. Let our Imams, women, youth groups, pastors must be deliberate about informing followers to get vaccinated “.
On his party, Kintampo Municipal Disease Control Officer Dabuo Miyel says Ghanaians should learn to adjust themselves to modernity in line with medical practice, disease prevention and control.
Bono East Regional Chief Imam Ahmed Tijani Gariba Gagaraw who led prayer to usher-in the workshop, acknowledged the urgent need to scale up vaccination programme and thanked The Light Foundation and UNICEF for the project”.
Kintampo Municipal Chief Imam Suleman Umar has advised ” Muslims to participate in the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination during the Ramadan. According to him, fasting should not prevent Muslims from vaccination simply because one needs to eat before the uptake. Go for your vaccination upon breaking your fast”.
Kintampo District Pastor of Presbyterian Church of Ghana Rev. Gabriel Madjitey said “Sickness has no religion. It attack anybody whether Muslims or Christians …so let’s take the vaccination seriously. I have done two already, my assistant has done same and we’re warning up to the third vaccination which the booster”.
Meanwhile, Mental Health Officer of Kintampo Municipal Hospital Ibrahim Kassim-Jato has appealed to Imams, pastors and other groups, religious leaders to scale up advocacy on Covid-19, yellow fever and Polio vaccination against hesitancy and myths being peddled by social media influencers.
