SIX TEAMS OF GHANAIAN HEALTH WORKERS ARE CURRENTLY OUT A PROGRAMME OF ANTI-SMALLPOX VACCINATIONS IN ACCRA, WHERE ABOUT A QUARTER-OF-A-MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED SINCE LAST MONTH'S MAJOR OUTBREAK OF THE DISEASE IN NIMA. IN JULY, A CONFERENCE OF ABOUT 40 UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS FROM 18 WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES IS BEING HELD IN ACCRA.

THE CAMPAIGN IN GHANA STARTED DURING THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR IN FEBRUARY WHEN JUST UNDER 110,000 PEOPLE WERE VACCINATED AGAINST SMALLPOX OR MEASLES.

UNDER AN AGREEMENT SIGNED IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR BETWEEN THE GHANAIAN AND UNITED STATES GOVERNMENTS, THE AMERICANS ARE PROVIDING EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL FOR THE PROGRAMME.

THE TEAMS ARE USING AN AUTOMATIC INJECTOR WHICH CAN VACCINATE MORE THAN 700 PEOPLE IN AN HOUR, AND NEEDS ONLY ONE NURSE OR HEALTH WORKER TO OPERATE.

THE VACCINATION IS FREE AND VIRTUALLY PAINLESS, AND IT IS HOPED THAT BY THE END OF THE MASS VACCINATION PROGRAMME IN GHANA AND OTHER WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES, SMALLPOX WILL BE ELIMINATED.