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Winning trust: A reluctant father’s change of heart on vaccination for his child
In the Ketu North District of Ghana, Erica Doe Hormeku, a passionate Community Health Nurse (CHN) at the Kasu Health Centre, dedicates herself to ensuring every child receives their routine immunisation.
Brimming with enthusiasm and commitment, Erica tirelessly follows up with caregivers, even those hesitant about vaccinating their children.
Despite her best efforts, there are a few who remain adamant, which worries her deeply.
“Some caregivers refuse vaccination for their children, and we follow up to talk to them. Many of these cases have been overturned, but others remain. My fear is that such attitudes are ‘infectious’ and could potentially impact vaccine uptake,” Erica shares.
One such case involved David, a 46-year-old teacher and father of four, who refused to have his youngest child, Dennis, vaccinated, even though his other children were fully vaccinated and remained healthy.
At three years old, Dennis had only received the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine at birth. Under Ghana’s national immunisation schedule, Dennis should have completed his routine vaccinations by 18 months. However, missed doses can still be administered until age five.
David’s reluctance stemmed from a deep mistrust of vaccines. “My parents told me I was not given any vaccines as a child, but I am healthy. These vaccines contain germs that cause illness instead of the so-called protection. I want to use my son to prove to everyone that vaccines are not relevant,” he stressed when health workers visited his home.
Thanks to funding from Canada Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity (CanGIVE), Erica and a team from World Health Organisation (WHO) Ghana made a follow-up visit to David’s home. They spent time explaining to him and his partner, Janet, the benefits of vaccination, the safety measures in place, and the risks of leaving a child unvaccinated.
Dr Kwadwo Asante-Afari, WHO’s Technical Officer for Risk Communication and Community Engagement, shared his expertise during the discussion, saying, “Vaccines have contributed significantly to the reduction of deaths and illness, especially among children. Some diseases, including measles and polio, that once killed and maimed children are no longer encountered as often.”
After a thorough conversation, David’s stance began to shift. “I see the importance now, and I want to make sure my son is protected,” he said, agreeing to allow Dennis to receive his missed vaccines. A vaccination plan was created with input from the family, addressing concerns about multiple injections. Dennis was immediately vaccinated with oral polio vaccine, inactivated polio vaccine, pentavalent vaccine, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, with a follow-up schedule to complete the remaining doses.
Dennis’ mother, Janet, expressed her relief, saying, “It has always been my prayer that my partner agrees to Dennis’ vaccination just as the other children, and I am happy you defied the terrain and came this far to speak with him. I now have the assurance of my son’s protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.”
Gariba Abubakar Sumaila, the District Director of Health Services, acknowledged the positive impact of the intervention. “We shall work with the family to complete Dennis’ vaccination as planned. WHO’s intervention has been very impactful and will go a long way to strengthen demand for immunisation beyond this case. We have learned a lot from your approach and will scale it up to ensure every child benefits from vaccination”, he explained.
This successful engagement not only ensured Dennis received his vaccination but also strengthened community trust in immunisation. It’s a reminder that changing hearts and minds requires patience, dedication, and a commitment to protecting future generations.
The Minority in Parliament has strongly objected to any planned merger or partnership between the government and Telecel, describing the deal as “technically, operationally, and financially unconscionable.”
Ranking Member on the Communications Committee, Matthew Nyindam, raised the concern during a media briefing in Parliament.
He questioned why both the Minister of Communications and Telecel would publicly announce a merger and then suddenly go silent on the matter.
“We object to any deal with Telecel by way of merger, absorption, or acquisition. This is a scheme to dispose of a national asset to fill private pockets,” Mr. Nyindam stated.
He argued that Telecel has not demonstrated any special technical or operational expertise that staff and management of AT (formerly AirtelTigo) do not already possess.
According to him, Telecel had earlier promised to invest $500 million after acquiring Vodafone Ghana but failed to do so, a situation he fears could repeat itself if the government allows another deal.
Mr. Nyindam claimed that Telecel was already indebted to the tune of $400 million, adding that the company only seeks to benefit from AT’s over three million customers to expand its own base without making any real investment.
“The government must not surrender the capacity of a state-owned company to a private entity through majority ownership. There is no clear plan to protect the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of workers,” he stressed.
The Minority Caucus is therefore calling on the government to halt any discussions or agreements with Telecel regarding the proposed merger, insisting that the deal is not in the national interest.
Flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bryan Acheampong, has called for an emergency 90-day suspension of all forms of mining in Ghana to help restore polluted rivers and water bodies.
He made the call during his campaign tour, where he engaged party members and residents on issues of national concern, including security, the environment, and responsible mining.
Mr Acheampong explained that the temporary ban should take place during the rainy season to allow the environment to recover naturally while the nation rethinks its mining practices.
“Let’s clear our water bodies and engage on how we can go back to mining. I’m not talking about a state of emergency, but mining, regardless of where, should stop now for the next 90 days,” he said.
He warned that illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, continues to poison food sources and destroy farmlands, posing a major threat to public health and food security.
“If our food systems are being poisoned and we just look on because we prefer to make money, our people will not be around in a very short time to address the situation,” he cautioned.
Mr Acheampong urged government, miners, and local leaders to use the proposed 90-day period to develop a sustainable framework for responsible mining that protects both livelihoods and the environment.
By: Jacob Aggrey
