He said completion of the cycle would help reduce the incidence of childhood related diseases and improve child survival rate in the country.   Dr Opare made the call in Tamale during a regional stakeholders meeting on the 2YL Project.

The meeting aims at implementing a social mobilisation and demand generations campaign activities for 2YL in the Northern, Volta and Greater Accra regions from now until November, this year.

Dr Opare said investigations made by 2YL showed that most mothers sent their babies for immunization only in the first year, which was very bad and had effects on their health.  He said some mothers were not aware of the second dose immunization period taking place in the 18 month after birth and called on health workers to assist in sensitising mothers on the second year of life immunization to help save the lives of infants.

Madam Eleaner Sey, a Health Communication Specialist at the Ghana Heath Service (GHS), said the 2YL Project sought to improve child survival by ensuring that services provided after the first year of life, which included immunization, vitamin A supplementation, growth monitoring and other childhood interventions, were strengthened in the second year.

She said the 2YL sought to provide interventions such as Measles-Rubella vaccine second dose (MR2), Meningitis A vaccine, Catch-up Vaccines (missed vaccines), Vitamin A supplementation, Growth Monitoring, and Provision of Long-lasting Insecticide Net (LLIN) to aid in health care delivery.

Zagzaa Naa Alhassan Issahaku Amadu, a Development Consultant, urged the 2YL to intensify efforts to create awareness on the campaign through a door-to-door approach on the second-year dose to help reduce infant mortality.

He said religious and traditional leaders should also be well informed so as to help them carry the messages to their people.