Features
Childhood vaccine shortage: A justification for Public Health Emergency Fund
• Availability of childhood vaccines would require more reliable source of funding
In February this year, there was uneasy calm among health workers and parents following reports of a widespread shortage of vaccines used for the routine immunisation of babies from birth to 18 months.
Vaccines said to be unavailable nationwide included Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), which primarily prevents the occurrence of tuberculosis in babies, and OPV, which prevents polio infections. Others that prevent diseases such as whooping cough and measles were also in short supply.
Health workers said although there had been shortages in the past, it was not as pervasive as the scarcity recorded in 10 of 16 administrative regions of the country.
The President of the Paediatrics Society of Ghana, Dr. Hilda Mantebea Boye, had stated that the delay in the supply of the vaccine could lead to an outbreak of childhood diseases, including measles. And true to her words and other concerns expressed by many interest groups, about 100 cases of measles were detected in Northern Ghana by the time the first batch of vaccines had arrived.
Delay in the supply of vaccines was partly attributed to the depreciating Cedi but the Minister of Health Kwaku Agyeman Manu, at a press conference in Accra, explained that the situation was rather a “global challenge.” According to him, the shortage had nothing to do with the government owing suppliers but he gave the assurance that the situation would be resolved in due time.
To ease tension, the Health Minister indicated that no death was recorded as a result of the vaccine shortage.
Vaccination
Be that as it may, health experts say gaps in vaccination could “reduce immunity and require children to start the series all over again” hence the need to comply with recommended vaccine schedules. This, perhaps, explains the anxiety expressed by parents and health practitioners when the vaccines were taking too long to arrive.
Children are exposed to thousands of germs every day due to the food they eat, the air they breathe, and the things they put in their mouths. Because their immune system is not fully developed at birth, they are susceptible to infections and serious illnesses. Vaccines, therefore, help build their natural defenses and reduce the risk of contracting diseases.
It was, therefore, refreshing that good consignments were procured pending the delivery of additional supplies, as indicated by the government. Considering that it was the first time such a massive shortage was recorded, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman speaking on the floor of Parliament assured that the phenomenon would not occur again.
Shortage
During the period of the shortage, Private Health Practitioner, Dr. Amanda Nhyirah Biyeh, explained that facilities that did not have the vaccines relied on vitamins to “help sustain the children for some time.”
“Thirty percent of patients that come to our facility are pregnant women and children who come for vaccination. Sometimes there is an argument between nurses, doctors, and parents when we tell them there are no vaccines.”
“What we do is to give them vitamin B12, folic acid, and omega 3 fatty acids. These are the ones that help boost the immune system and help prevent some sickness until the children can go back and start their vaccination schedules again,” she noted.
Following the delivery of the first batch of vaccines on March 11, 2023, health workers are ensuring that parents who missed out on the routine vaccination would do the necessary “catch up”.
Donors
According to the Health Ministry, about $6.4 million had been paid to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which supplies the vaccines. Mr Agyeman, speaking on the floor of Parliament, did not indicate when the payments were made and what might have caused the delay.
As we await the delivery of the second batch of vaccines, the assurances and explanations given by the Health Ministry is an indication of the financial hurdle the country had to overcome to procure the vaccines.
To this extent, the government and health authorities cannot gloss over the fact that the availability of childhood vaccines in the future would require a more reliable source of funding.
Analysis presented by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), a non profit organisation focusing on national health issues indicated that the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), since its launch in 2000, had disbursed over $18 billion to support immunization efforts in low and middle-income countries, including Ghana.
GAVI is an independent public-private partnership and multilateral funding mechanism that aims at expanding global access to and use of vaccines, particularly among vulnerable children.
In 2017, development partners funded at least 19% of the country’s health expenditure but stakeholders say Ghana’s shift from low-income to middle-income status implies that the country would be “ineligible to receive concessional aid in the future.”
Civil Society Organisations and other health agencies agree that the loss of support from donor agencies could negatively impact the health system, such as procurement of medical products, availability of human resources, and lack of technical capacity to continue activities formally led by donors.
This and many factors give credence to why the country must stop paying lip service to the establishment of a Public Health Emergency Fund (PHEF) as captured in Ghana’s (2022- 2025) Medium Term Development Framework.
PHEF
The establishment of the fund would, undoubtedly, go a long way to help mobilise and disburse resources to respond effectively to potential health and humanitarian crisis in the future.
Although no casualty was recorded during the period of the shortage, one cannot imagine a future situation where children would not receive their recommended vaccines because there are no funds to procure same.
Again, a standby fund for health emergencies would have mitigated the recent inconveniences caused by the shortage of childhood vaccines. In the words of Dr. Biyeh, “we do not have to run out of vaccines.” According to her, the availability of funds would help in the procurement of enough cold chain facilities to store the vaccines.
“If the fund is established it would help the health centres a lot. The funds would ensure that we do not have to wait for a long time to raise funds or receive vaccines from elsewhere,” she said.
The government continues to play its part by raising domestic revenue to support the health budget. But to build a more resilient and responsive health system, we would have to look beyond external partners and fast-track the establishment of a Public Health Emergency Fund.
It would not only help us respond quickly to avoidable situations, such as the shortage of vaccines for childhood immunisation but would help provide adequate and sustained funding or backing for the country’s fragile public health system.
Availability of childhood vaccines would require more reliable source of funding
By Ernest Nutsugah
Features
Who knows tomorrow?
Recently a friend posted a sad news on his Facebook page, announcing the death of a school mate who had passed away, suddenly. The report had it that he was on his way to the airport to take a flight to Ghana.
I am sure this man had already informed the wife or a friend or a work colleague at work that he was returning home but he was not to return as a human being but as a dead body.
Such is life and so we need to be circumspect in how we go about things in life. The Bible reminds us that we are like grass which at one point in time looks elegant and the next moment becomes withered according to Psalm 90:5 and 6. It is for this reason that we need to guard our hearts with the word of God so that we shall be motivated to do the right thing, at all times.
This will enable us live on this planet, free from all sorts of troubles in our personal lives, even if we ignore the question of Heaven and Hell. Living a disciplined life delivers us from any kind of trouble as the Bible declares in Galatians 5:23 that against such there is no law.
The uncertainty surrounding our lives on earth is the more reason why people should commit their lives into the hands of the one who created it, in the first place unless you believe that the world created itself and that it appeared from nowhere.
Otherwise, the logical thing to do is to recognize the authority of the creator and surrender to his Lordship. Heaven is real and Hell is real, so for us who know the truth and have received Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, the onus lies on us to encourage our relations who have not believed and received Jesus into their lives, to do so.
We are a couple of days from another Easter Resurrection celebration and an opportunity to reflect on our lives in relation to the significance of Easter. In the Bible, the only occasion Jesus, Saviour of the world commands us to celebrate is his death and resurrection.
He never commanded his followers to celebrate his birth but like everything else, we chose to ignore Jesus’s instructions and decided to do what pleases us, just like our forefather and mother in the Garden of Eden.
Let us deliberately choose to do things differently as Christians this Easter, so we can really benefit from all the blessings that the celebration of the death and birth of Jesus, has on offer. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is definitely insanity.
I choose to be different this Easter and I am believing God for a newness of life so God’s glory would be revealed in me to draw the unsaved to him. It is only when people especially the unsaved, see the character of Christ in us, that they can be convinced about the authenticity of Jesus, as Saviour of the world, who can bring transformation in their lives too.
This is what would motivate them to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. Let us make this Easter a memorable one that will be cherished for a long time. It is also a period for reconciliation and it would be great if in the spirit of Easter, we would try to reach out to those who have wronged us or have a grudge against us.
This would demonstrate that we have indeed accepted Jesus and that our religious posture is not a sham. May the good Lord grant us the grace to love our neighbours as ourselves, demonstrating the love of God in the process.
Those who have lost their loved ones and Easter brings sad memories, may the good Lord comfort and strengthen you. God bless.
.NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
Features
Cosmetic deformities
COSMETIC deformities refer to physical imperfections or abnormalities that affect an individual’s appearance, often causing emotional distress and impacting their quality of life.
These deformities can be congenital, acquired, or result from various medical conditions or treatments. This article provides an in-depth exploration of cosmetic deformities, their types, causes, effects, and treatment options.
Types of cosmetic deformities
Cosmetic deformities can affect various parts of the body, including the face, skin, hair, nails, and teeth. Some common types of cosmetic deformities include:
1. Facial deformities: Congenital or acquired abnormalities affecting the shape, structure, or appearance of the face, such as cleft lip and palate, facial paralysis, or facial asymmetry.
2. Skin deformities: Conditions affecting the skin’s texture, tone, or appearance, such as acne, scars, birthmarks, or skin discoloration.
3. Hair deformities: Abnormalities affecting the hair’s growth, texture, or appearance, such as alopecia, hirsutism, or hair loss due to medical conditions or treatments.
4. Nail deformities: Conditions affecting the shape, size, or appearance of the nails, such as nail fungus, nail psoriasis, or nail trauma.
5. Dental deformities: Abnormalities affecting the shape, size, or appearance of the teeth, such as tooth decay, tooth loss, or malocclusion.
Causes of cosmetic deformities
Cosmetic deformities can result from various factors, including:
1. Genetics: Congenital conditions or inherited traits can cause cosmetic deformities.
2. Trauma: Injuries or accidents can result in cosmetic deformities, such as scars or facial trauma.
3. Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as acne, psoriasis, or eczema, can cause cosmetic deformities.
4. Treatments and procedures: Medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery, can result in cosmetic deformities.
5. Aging and environmental factors: Aging, sun exposure, and environmental factors can contribute to cosmetic deformities, such as wrinkles, fine lines, or age spots.
Effects of cosmetic deformities
Cosmetic deformities can have significant emotional and psychological effects on individuals, including:
1. Low self-esteem: Cosmetic deformities can lead to feelings of insecurity, self-consciousness, and low self-esteem.
2. Social anxiety: Individuals with cosmetic deformities may experience social anxiety, avoiding social interactions or feeling embarrassed in public.
3. Emotional distress: Cosmetic deformities can cause emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, or stress.
4. Impact on quality of life: Cosmetic deformities can affect an individual’s quality of life, impacting their relationships, career, or overall well-being.
Treatment options for cosmetic deformities
Various treatment options are available to address cosmetic deformities, including:
1. Surgical procedures: Surgical procedures, such as reconstructive surgery, cosmetic surgery, or dermatological surgery, can correct or improve cosmetic deformities.
2. Non-surgical treatments: Non-surgical treatments, such as laser therapy, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion, can address cosmetic concerns, such as skin texture, tone, or appearance.
3. Medical treatments: Medical treatments, such as topical creams, oral medications, or injectable treatments, can address cosmetic concerns, such as acne, hair loss, or nail deformities.
4. Prosthetic and orthotic devices: Prosthetic and orthotic devices, such as wigs, hairpieces, or dental prosthetics, can help individuals with cosmetic deformities.
5. Counselling and therapy: Counselling and therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychotherapy, can help individuals cope with the emotional and psychological effects of cosmetic deformities.
Conclusion
Cosmetic deformities can have significant emotional and psychological effects on individuals, impacting their quality of life and overall well-being.
Understanding the types, causes, and effects of cosmetic deformities is crucial in addressing these concerns.
Various treatment options are available, ranging from surgical procedures to non-surgical treatments, medical treatments, prosthetic and orthotic devices, and counselling and therapy.
By seeking professional help and support, individuals with cosmetic deformities can improve their appearance, boost their self-esteem, and enhance their overall quality of life.
Reference
1. “Cosmetic Deformities” by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
