Measles outbreak almost over; DOH thanks partners

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III today recognized health workers as vaccine heroes and thanked its partners in immunizing the country’s 3.8 million of six to 59 months old children against measles since February this year when the Department of Health (DOH) declared a measles outbreak in several regions in the country.

We will ensure that all our targets are vaccinated with the measles vaccines. I have instructed all our regional offices to achieve 95% for 6-59 months old children, for school-based immunization and the adults.

The health chief expressed his thanks during World Immunization Week, an annual event celebrated globally every last week of April, with the theme, “Protected Together: Vaccines Work!”

“The DOH would like to recognize our health workers who are our vaccine heroes who worked tirelessly to reach our immunization target. We would also like to thank the various sectors of society, both public and private, who responded quickly, pitched in and worked side by side with us during our immunization campaign to save our children from the ravages of measles,” the health chief said.

The national government agencies who were involved in the 2019 measles outbreak response are the Departments of Education, Interior and Local Government, Social Welfare & Development, Transportation and Communication, Office of Civil Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Information Agency, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, and the Bureau of Quarantine. The institutional partners were the World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, United States

Agency for International Development and Save the Children. The non-government organizations and private organizations were the Philippine Red Cross, Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Nurses Association and Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines. They supported the DOH through their unique mandates.

Other organizations who supported the DOH are civil societies, faith-based organizations, professional medical societies, barangay health workers, telecommunication companies, and the business sector.

Most of all, the health chief expresses his gratitude to Senator Manny Pacquiao and President Duterte for their all-out support for the Immunization Program.  — OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Department of Health