‘Immunization program lacks gov’t support’

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) is being blamed for the slow implementation of a government immunization program in some communities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

For DOH field personnel in the ARMM’s five component provinces, the lack of funding support from the agency’s central office in Manila is causing demoralization among their ranks.

DOH-ARMM employees in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, both in Central Mindanao, and in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi confirmed that there was no sufficient support from the DOH central office to sustain the program in their areas.

The ARMM government accomplished only about 30 percent of its polio and measles vaccination targets as of Sept. 15, the local health workers said.

A senior provincial health official, who requested anonymity, said DOH-ARMM workers have to spend their own money for their travel when they conduct on-site vaccination activities.

Despite the odds, ARMM’s regional health secretary Kadil Sinolinding Jr. remained calm on the plight of his subordinates.

He said aside from the non-availability of funds, another reason for the slow implementation of the polio and measles vaccination program is the strict auditing regulations being enforced by DOH.