BY:JENNIFER C. TILOS
DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug 29 (PIA) -- Negros Oriental health providers are set to conduct massive immunization against measles and polio provincewide for children ages zero to five years old in September this year.
Department of Health (DOH) Provincial health team leader Dr. Socrates Villamor Jr. has urged parents to take their children to government-owned hospitals and health centers to have them vaccinated.
Dr. Villamor said the National Immunization Program aims to keep the Philippines polio-free and move towards measles elimination and reduce rubella. The campaign is in support to the government’s continuing efforts to reduce deaths among children below five years old.
He said measles started reemerging in the Philippines somewhere in Luzon, thus, local government units or barangay officials, parents and even religious leaders are asked to assist in identifying or informing health workers whose children are not yet immunize.
The campaign is anchored on the theme “Ligtas sa Tigdas, Magkaisa, Magpabakuna.”
It is noted that German measles and polio if left untreated it can lead to Vitamin A deficiency, encephalitis, blindness, pneumonia, and diarrhea.
However, these diseases can be prevented through vaccination.
Measles vaccines will be given to children aged 9 months to 5 years old below, while polio vaccines will be given to children aged 0 to 5 years old below.
Villamor said the vaccination will be done at the fixed site in the morning, however, in the afternoon the health workers will go house to house to check if there are still children that have not received the shots. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)