Friday Mar, 29 2024 07:15:58 PM

BARMM eyes 95% immunization coverage vs. polio, measles

HEALTH • 16:30 PM Wed May 3, 2023
1
By: 
Edwin Fernandez and Nef Luczon

COTABATO CITY – Health frontliners in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are aiming to immunize at least 95 percent of children against polio and measles.

BARMM health officials launched Tuesday its regionwide campaign dubbed “Chikiting Ligtas: Measles-Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine (MR-OPV SIA)” for the protection of children against the diseases.

The campaign will involve vaccinating children aged 0–59 months against measles and giving them oral polio vaccines.

Saida Ali, MOH-BARMM information officer, said the massive vaccination drive will last until end of May.

In a briefer, the Ministry of Health (MOH)-BARMM said measles and polio are contagious diseases that can cause severe complications, such as pneumonia, ear infections (otitis media), conjunctivitis, diarrhea, encephalitis, malnutrition, and death in children.

With this, MOH-BARMM Deputy Minister Zul Qarnayn Abas called on regional health stakeholders to advocate and encourage the parents and families to bring their children to nearby health centers.

“When parents, for one reason or another, could not bring their children to the health station, our frontliners are conducting house-to-house visits, and mobile clinics, so we can protect our children,” he said.

May be an image of 1 person, slow loris and text that says 'Healthy unicef Pilipinas for every child World Health Organization Healthy Bangsamoro CHIKITING LIGTAS dgdagbakukonta kontra Polio, bakuna Rubella Tigdas Papa-Vaccine, Bakunanay, NGAYON NA! Protektahan si Chikiting sa Polio, Rubella, at Tigdas. Pabakunahan ang inyong mga anak laban sa Polio, Rubella at Tigdas ngayong May 2-31, 2023 sa CityMall, Cotabato City! Bakuna kontra Polio (OPV) hanggang 59 months Bakuna kontra Tigdas at Rubella (MR) 9 hanggang 59 months myhealthbarm 09154409142 @MOHBARMM moh.bangsamoro.gov.pl'

Health Undersecretary Dr. Abdullah Dumama Jr., has assured that the vaccines are safe, effective and free, and have undergone studies by experts for quality and effectiveness.

Dumama, former DOH-Soccsksargen regional director and Cotabato City health officer, has urged everyone to address the problem by protecting their loved ones, especially their children from highly communicable diseases.

“We need to find solutions to this polio and measles problem, let us not allow these viruses to hit our children,” he said in his speech here.

BARMM Health Minister Dr. Rizaldy Piang said they hope to immunize about 626,000 children in the region.

In Lanao del Sur, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) said it is targeting a maximum of 166,000 children as vaccine recipients.

"We don't want to have outbreaks in our province, and it is important that we should aim to cover all qualified children to get the vaccines," IPHO chief Dr. Alinader Minalang said in a statement.

Vice Governor Mohammad Khalid Raki-in Adiong said parents and caregivers are urged to protect children against measles, rubella and polio through the vaccination offered freely to the public. (PNA)

Winds destroy houses in Magsur, NoCot

COTABATO CITY --- Some 40 houses were destroyed by strong winds that pummeled lowlands in the adjoining towns of Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur and...

UK: Bangsamoro one of world’s few successful peace processes

MANILA – The United Kingdom has hailed the creation of the Bangsamoro region as one of the world’s few successful peace processes as it joined...

Antipas LGU releases official list of victims of highway mishap

OFFICIAL list of victims of March 25, 2024 vehicular accident involving passenger van and cargo truck. The list is from the local government of...

Cotabato Light announces April 6 power service interruption

Cotabato Light announcement:  To all our valued customers, please be informed of the scheduled power interruption affecting a portion of...

BARMM has new police regional director

CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao Norte - Police Brig. Gen. Prexy Dugas Tanggawohn was installed as new police regional director for the Bangsamoro...