DOH optimistic on 800T target

CEBU, Philippines - Regional health authorities are optimistic that they will hit the regional target of over 800,000 children below five years old for the measles and polio mass immunization amid concerns on security and weather. 

Department of Health-7 assistant regional director Dr. Lakshmi Legaspi has identified these factors to have contributed to the problem in regular reporting of accomplishments.

Bohol province and Negros Oriental are reportedly among the areas experiencing drawbacks in the implementation of the nationwide anti-measles and anti-polio mass vaccination.

“There are areas in Negros Oriental where our health workers cannot penetrate because of security concerns. To address this, we are negotiating with local authorities and asked them if the mothers can go down to one area where we can have the immunization,” Legaspi said.

Bohol in-charge Dr. Sophia Mancao, for her part, said that the throwing of a grenade at a market in Bohol which killed one has affected the mass immunization.

Nevertheless, both officials remain optimistic that by the end of the month, the target will be accomplished.

For the first three days, Mandaue City has reported 31-percent coverage, Lapu-Lapu City with 30 percent, Danao City with 27 percent, and Canlaon in Negros Oriental with 25 percent.

Legaspi and Mancao both said they expect reports from localities who have not submitted their progress reports before the end of the week.

On a national scale, DOH aims to reach its target of a 90 percent coverage of all children below five years old to curb the rising occurrence of measles outbreaks in the country.

In Central Visayas, around 844,000 children are set to be immunized, bulk of which are in Cebu province.

“This massive immunization is an add-on to the routine immunization conducted by DOH. If the last vaccination of the either measles or polio was done at least 28 days prior, the child is eligible for the mass immunization,” Legaspi explained.

Children who have undergone the immunization will be marked with an indelible ink on their little finger. — (FREEMAN)