by Lito Dar

LA TRINIDAD Benguet – Department of Health (DOH)-Manila Health Service Delivery Cluster Office Director III, Dr. Edwin Sanchez reiterated the health department’s call for public support to the Measles-Rubella Supplementary Immunization Activity (MRSIA) campaign.

Sanchez was the guest speaker Monday during the regional launching of the MRSIA ‘Iligtas sa Tigdas’ campaign at Barangay Puguis, this capital town. The launching spearheaded by the Center for Health and Development Cordillera (DOH-CHD-CAR) started with a motorcade around town and a ceremonial vaccination of several children.

“Let us continue to help one another safeguard the health of our children and for our country to achieve our Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Number 4, the reduction of child morbidity and mortality. Magtulong tulong tayong bakunahan ang ating mga bata for a successful Ligtas Tigdas campaign,” Sanchez said.

According to Dr. Sanchez, the increasing number of measles cases is alarming. From the 453 cases of measles recorded in 2007, it jumped to 6,200 cases in 2011. Around 70 percent of the measles cases recorded involved children that were not vaccinated. In the last few years, 66 children died from such disease.
“Kung titignan natin maliit iyung 66, pero significant ito sa DOH kasi dapat walang batang namamatay sa measles dahil libre naman ang vaccination,” Sanchez stressed.

Here in Cordillera, as per DOH-CAR’s data there was no confirmed measles case recorded from 2006 to 2009 but from the later part of 2010, 91 suspected measles cases were recorded of which 49 are laboratory confirmed. Majority are from the Baguio and Benguet area. There was also one death case, though it was not laboratory confirmed as the child die before a lab confirmation was conducted.

For January to March of this year, 178 suspected measles cases were already recorded by DOH-CAR, wherein 75 came from Benguet, 35 from Baguio City, 32 in Mountain Province. A total of 31 of the recorded cases were confirmed as measles while 21 were confirmed as Rubella (German measles).

Sanchez reiterated to the public, especially to parents and guardians of children nine months to seven years 11 months to open their door and welcome the vaccination team. “Bakuna lamang ang tanging makapagliligtas sa ating mga bata laban sa measles at rubella,” he stressed.

Under the ‘Iligtas sa Tigdas and Pinas,” campaign, the DOH aims to give measles-rubella (MR) immunization to18 million Filipino children. To reach out their target, a month long door-to-door campaign is on-going.
Here in Cordillera, 763 vaccination teams will facilitate the campaign which will also be closely monitored by DOH-CAR officials and personnel. After the vaccination, there will also be validations to be done by the health department and certifications (citations) will be given to the provinces that will not miss a single child (target) or at least have reached 95 percent of their target.

The launching program was attended by hundreds of immunization team volunteers and barangay health workers. *(PIA CAR)