MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 1, 2014) – President Benigno Aquino led the launching Monday in Manila of the mass immunization campaign against measles and polio.
The nationwide vaccination campaign targets children and is a follow-up to the 2011 Measles Rubella Supplemental Immunization. Some 13 million people in the country are at risk from measles, polio and rubella (German measles).
Aquino has urged the public to cooperate in eradicating the diseases. He said the Department of Health (DOH) is carrying out the initiative aimed at preventing outbreaks.
“Ito na nga ho ay mga pagbabakuna para mailayo sa kapahamakang madudulot kung tatamaan ng polio o pati na ng measles, lalo na ang kanyang mga komplikasyon,” he said. “Ngayon, ang Department of Health po ay talagang nakagayak na at binigyan ng sapat na pondo para maipaitupad ‘yung hinahabol nga nating 95 percent na vaccination.”
Aquino said the DOH will try its best to reach remote communities to carry out the vaccination program. He also emphasized the importance of coordinating with local government units throughout the country to ensure the program’s success.
He called on parents to take it upon themselves to have their children vaccinated. “Pakiusap po sa lahat, itong ‘Ligtas sa Tigdas’ na programa natin ay ating suportahan. Doon sa mga hindi pa nakakarinig nitong programang ito, makidamay na po tayong ipaalala sa kanila ang obligasyon natin sa kabataang ito,” he said.
Although there has been no reported case of polio in the country, the DOH is implementing the anti-polio campaign in compliance with the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulation on polio as a public health emergency.
The campaign intends to maintain the county’s polio-free status. The mass vaccination campaign will run until September 30 and all health centers throughout the country will serve as vaccination posts.
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