The Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Wednesday, December 10, 2024, held a stakeholder engagement in the West Gonja Municipal Health Directorate conference hall in Damongo the Savannah Regional capital to intensify regional support for the Second Year of Life (2YL) vaccination initiative, which targets children between 12 and 24 months.
Under the theme “Promoting Second Year of Life (2YL) Interventions,” the meeting highlighted the need for children to receive all vaccines due after their first birthday, including catch-up doses and other essential health services.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Savannah Regional Health Director, the Deputy Director of Finance, Mr. Abdul Razack Issahaku, underscored the responsibility of stakeholders in improving child health outcomes.
He described the 2YL interventions as critical in providing additional protection for children beyond their first year and encouraged practical discussions to strengthen the program’s implementation.
Regional EPI Coordinator, Mr. Anthony Kuntoh, noted that the initiative fills a long-standing gap in Ghana’s immunization schedule, which traditionally concluded at nine months.
He explained that extending immunization into the second year creates an opportunity to administer vaccines meant for children older than one year, while also reaching those who missed earlier doses.
Mr. Kuntoh added that the 2YL initiative aligns with the World Health Organization’s Immunization Agenda 2030, which advocates universal access to vaccines at every stage of life.
Despite the program’s potential, he pointed out challenges such as low coverage, weak community engagement, inadequate collaboration with local authorities, and insufficient public awareness. He called for unified efforts to address these setbacks.
Source: kashafmonline.com
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