2015 Alumni Lecture Delivered By Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah

07 Dec, 2015by skdagudetse

Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah Delivering the Lecture

The Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, has delivered the 2015 Alumni Lecture on the topic “Vaccines and Public Anxiety” at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana. Dr. Anarfi Asomoa-Baah is a product of the University of Ghana Medical School, now School of Medicine and Dentistry.

The lecture explored the need for policy makers, health practitioners and Ghanaians to welcome the potential of vaccines to minimizing or eradicating viral and infectious diseases rather than raising doubt and outright refusal to the use of vaccines.

Dr. Asamoa-Baah dated the discovery and use of vaccines to the 18^th Century, when a young country doctor in England used material from cowpox sores on a dairymaid’s hands to provide the world’s first protection against smallpox. He noted that, although no one realized the breakthrough at the time, the discovery set the world on a path to eventually defeating an ancient and horrific disease.

Elaborating further, Dr. Asamoa-Baah underscored the continuous support by the World Health Organization to fighting infectious diseases in Africa and the world at large. These interventions through the manufacture and supply of vaccines, he noted, has led to the availability and access to increased antibody drugs that enables affected persons to recover fully from bodily diseases like cancer of the liver and cervix, as well as infections like small pox, cow pox, measles, polio, meningitis, diphtheria, among other ailments. He indicated that in 1974, the WHO initiated an Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and with international commitment and cooperation, allowed for other vaccine-preventable diseases to be subjugated.

Dr. Asamoa-Baah also identified 3 main sources to Public Anxiety. The first was parent’s misgivings about the need to protect their children from diseases that seemed to belong to the past. The second anxiety was reinforced by occasional reports of adverse reactions and unfounded rumours of a link between common vaccines and autism for example. The third were scandals relating to unethical practices in clinical trials and the commercial practices of pharmaceutical companies. These he noted, have created a level of mistrust that extends to clinical trials of new vaccines, a case in point being the Ebola trials in Ghana. He however advised the public to see the outbreaks of diseases as an opportunity to increase vaccine literacy and to build trust with the WHO to ensure safety and effectiveness in the use of vaccines. Dr. Asamoa-Baah lauded the University of Ghana for investing more in research and development and assured the University of the WHO’s continual support in the ensuing years.

Delivering the welcome address, the Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Stella A. Amoa said the Alumni Lectures is a collaboration between the University and the Alumni Association. She noted that Alumni lectures not only provided a platform for intellectual discourse but also an opportunity to honour and celebrate accomplished alumni as well as reminisce the days at the University.

Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Stella A. Amoa

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, who chaired the lecture, commended Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah for his dedication to clinical research. He acknowledged the role of the Alumni Association in forging close links with the University and partner with the University to launch health sensitization projects. He also thanked also thanked the World Health Organization for their incessant support to societal health needs. Prof. Aryeetey was optimistic that the lecture would help allay the public’s suspicions and anxiety towards the use of vaccines.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey

The Chairman of the University of Ghana Alumni Association, Mr. Paa Kwesi Yankey said the University places great importance to the Alumni Lectures, adding that, the event was in pursuance of the University’s mission of remaining a Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Research. He indicated that, the sporadic nature of diseases spreading and afflicting countries in Africa, particularly the recent Ebola menace, posed a threat to inter-Regional security and development. He expressed gratitude to the WHO for acting as final arbiter in vaccines to ensure best clinical practices in affected zones. Mr. Yankey also thanked Dr. Asamoa-Baah for honouring the invitation to deliver the Alumni Lecture in spite of his numerous commitments and engagements with the WHO. He also used the occasion to commend the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey for his visionary leadership and to wish him well as his tenure comes to an end in July 2016.

Chairman of the University of Ghana Alumni Association, Mr. Paa Kwesi Yankey

Present at the Lecture were the Chairman of the University of Ghana Council, Justice Dr. S. K. Date-Bah, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (ORID), Prof. John Gyapong, members of the Alumni Council, Provosts, Deans, Directors, Faculty members, alumni, and students of the University and the general public.