BACOLOD City – The Department of Health in Western Visayas lauded this city’s ongoing “Chikiting Ligtas” measles-rubella and oral polio vaccine supplemental immunization activity.
DOH regional coordinator Adrian Hort Ramos commended the City Health Office (CHO) for observing coronavirus referral and triage protocols during the vaccination activities.
He described as “very good” the CHO’s practice of providing health declaration cards for both the parent and the child participating in the immunization.
“Congratulations on the efforts! I was impressed. It can help with our infection control,” Ramos said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Edwin Miraflor, CHO officer-in-charge, said a total of 14,073 children aged nine to 59 months have been vaccinated for measles-rubella as of Feb. 11.
The figure represents 28.02 percent of the 50,231 target number of children.
Some 15,801 children also received the oral polio vaccine, or 26.98 percent of the 58,565 target children.
Moreover, Ramos observed that during the vaccination, caregivers were properly wearing facemasks and face shields.
Proper coordination with the barangay was also followed to ensure sufficient space for the vaccination teams and mobilization of barangay tanods in the vaccination flow.
“Involvement of barangay officials was highly visible in all areas. There was also a provision of transportation assistance and food assistance for the vaccinators,” he added.
The DOH’s “Chikiting Ligtas” health campaign, which runs from February 1 to 28, aims to immunize 95 percent of all children aged nine to 59 months with measles-rubella vaccines, and all children under 5 years old with oral polio vaccines.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said while the Filipinos are still facing the coronavirus pandemic, it is also a reality that there exist other infectious communicable diseases.
“Let us protect our children from these diseases. We appeal to all concerned parents and guardians to submit their children to vaccination,” he added.
For her part, Director Emilia Monicimpo of DOH Region 6 said the vaccination campaign acts as a preventive measure that guards children against contracting highly contagious diseases that lead to grave complications, including permanent disability.
“In our fight against these vaccine-preventable diseases, we need to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated,” she added. (With a report from PNA/PN)
