Tarkwa: The Ghana Health Service (GHS), in collaboration with the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Health Directorate, has set a target to vaccinate more than 6,000 individuals against the Mpox disease.

According to Ghana News Agency, the vaccination effort will primarily focus on high-risk groups residing in areas within the municipality where Mpox is more prevalent. Mrs. Wilhemina Tiwaah Duah Morttey, Municipal Director of Health Services in Tarkwa Nsuaem, emphasized during a press briefing in Tarkwa that the initiative is directed at immunocompromised patients and individuals working closely with others.

Mrs. Morttey highlighted that with the impending launch of the vaccination campaign and ongoing preventive strategies, the directorate aims to effectively control the spread of the disease. She mentioned that the ‘Catch Them All campaign’ is being leveraged to ensure the vaccine reaches everyone who has been infected within the municipality.

Community members are encouraged to remain vigilant, and anyone with an infection is urged to report to the nearest health facility for follow-up treatment and contact tracing. Mrs. Morttey noted that while typical Mpox symptoms have been outlined, numerous cases present atypically, often exhibiting rashes confined to the genital area, which are confirmed as Mpox.

The public is advised not to delay visiting health facilities for evaluation if such rashes are observed. Additionally, Mrs. Morttey urged regular handwashing with soap under running water and warned against sharing personal items like clothing, towels, and handkerchiefs.

The Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Health Directorate has so far recorded 75 confirmed Mpox cases. Mpox is a viral disease spread through skin-to-skin contact with infected individuals, animals, or contaminated surfaces. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024.