by Claire R. Gigje
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)–The health sector in Lanao del Sur province gets more committed to providing additional protection for children so that they may not be infected with measles, rubella, and polio.
To realize this mission, health officials in the entire locality called on a unified voice to urge parents and caregivers to permit their children to take the measles and rubella vaccine (MRV) and oral polio vaccine (OPV), especially now that the campaign dubbed Chikiting Ligtas 2023 has kicked off.
Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) Chief Dr. Alinader Minalang stated that qualified children should be vaccinated against measles, rubella, and polio, as this would be a significant help in maintaining the health of the younger generation.
He emphasized that these diseases could be fatal once acquired by kids and, at worst, could cause death.
Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO)-Lanao del Sur Chief Dr. Alinader Minalang stresses that the measles and rubella vaccines and the oral polio vaccine are safe, effective, Halal, and free. (RCG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
Minalang highlighted that the public should not doubt the vaccines, as they are safe, effective, and proven to prevent the named infections. These are also deemed to be Halal-certified and offered for free.
“Dalhin natin ang ating mga anak sa mga health center upang mabakunahan at mabigyan ng sapat na proteksyon. Ito ay kailangan din natin upang masiguro natin na malusog ang ating mga anak paglaki nila at hindi sila mabiktima nitong mga vaccine-preventable na mga sakit,” he said.
(Let us bring our children to the health centers for them to be vaccinated and be given enough protection. This is needed to ensure that our children will be healthy when they grow and that they will not be victims of these vaccine-preventable diseases)
IPHO Provincial Health Officer Dr. Apasrah Macumbal-Mapupuno, on the other hand, kept on reiterating that their office would want to continue imparting to the community their primary goal, which is to provide the best protection for children.
She said before the situation becomes worse, they generally aim to immunize at least 95% of children nine months to less than five years old with MRV, regardless of measles vaccine immunization status, and with a minimum of a four-week interval from the last dose of MRV.
Moreover, at least 95% of children from zero to less than five years old should be immunized with OPV regardless of OPV or IPV status, with at least a four-week interval from the last dose of OPV received.
“We are doing this before we have an outbreak in the province. This campaign is a call to action, which is to empower and care for every child in the community through immunization,” said Mapupuno.
The provincial health officer of the IPHO likewise enjoined the local government units (LGUs), private and business sectors, academe, and all stakeholders to implement and support the crusade.
Mapupuno underscored that the citizenry should remember that vaccines have gone through many studies and have been proven effective, so there is no reason for anyone to worry, and deprive the kids of their rights to be protected through immunization.
“Huwag nating ipagkait sa mga bata ang kanilang karapatan sa bakuna. Our main goal here is that no child is left behind in this campaign,”
As the Chikiting Ligtas 2023 campaign goes on for the whole month of May this year, the IPHO has assured that there is enough supply of vaccines to inoculate the target population. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
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