Health workers get umbrellas to ward off dogs

MANILA, Philippines - Aside from vaccine kits and information materials, health workers will be armed with umbrellas to ward off dogs as they go from house to house to vaccinate children against measles and rubella, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

“There were incidents in the past when our health workers were bitten by dogs. We hope to prevent this so we’ll be giving them umbrella to drive away the dogs,” Dr. Ed Janairo, director of the DOH-National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said.

Janairo added the health workers could also use the umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun and rain.

The DOH will embark on a vaccination campaign from April 4 to May 4 to curb measles and rubella. Some 18 million children aged nine months to below eight years old have been targeted for the program.

Janairo said the health workers were also tasked to register pregnant women in each household when they do the door-to-door vaccination.

“We want to make sure that these women are given the health care services that they need. We want them to know that there are vitamins for pregnant women that they can avail of,” he said.

Janairo has urged the public to cooperate with the vaccination teams.

“Please let your qualified children to be vaccinated against measles and rubella. This will benefit them for life. Do not hide your children,” he added.