Anti-measles drive in C, Visayas yields 80 percent vaccination rate
By Fayette C. Riñen
‘the DOH however, extends deadline to May 30 for a 100% vaccination rate’
CEBU CITY, May 10 (PIA) --- Eighty-percent of the 1.4M targeted children have been vaccinated inCentral Visayas against measles as the Department of Health (DOH) extends its house-to-house campaign in a bid to achieve a zero incidence rate of measles cases.
“At this point, we are happy to announce that we have accomplished an 80 percent vaccination rate among the intended beneficiaries of the anti-measles campaign,” which amounts to 1.12M out of the 1.4M children ages nine months to less than eight years old in the region, according to DOH-7 Measles-Rubella Program Coordinator Dr. Nayda Bautista in an interview over local ABS CBN News.
The supposedly one-month house-to-house anti-measles drive that kicked off April 4 until May 4 has been extended by the health department until the end of May to achieve a 100 percent vaccination rate among the eligible recipients.
Health Sec. Dr. Enrique Ona has announced the extension of the ‘Iligtas sa Tigdas ang Pinas’ campaign as only 63 percent out of the 18M children targeted for the immunization have been vaccinated during the door-to-door drive at the end of the deadline last May 4.
The DOH expressed optimism that by the end of the month, the remaining 6.2M children would have been immunized targeting at the very least a 95-percent coverage throughout the country.
Bautista on the other hand, said that their target in the region is between 80 to 85 percent coverage and that the extension of the deadline would allow them ample time to increase their immunization rate.
“Considering the many holidays during April including the Holy Week, we can safely conclude that it (door-to-door anti-measles campaign) has been a success in the region,” Bautista added.
Measles is a highly communicable viral disease with children predominantly at high risk in developing the illness with manifestations that include generalized blotchy rash, lasting for three or more days, fever, and cough or runny nose.
Measles can be spread through droplets from one person to the other by sneezing, coughing and close personal contact, this is learned.
Bautista previously bared that the incidence of measles in the region has declined for the first quarter this year compared to the same period last year,
But due to the rising incidence of measles in other parts of the country, the DOH conducted the door-to-door anti-measles campaign to virtually eradicate rising rates as measles is a preventable disease with immunization as the key remedy. (PIA 7-Cebu)
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DILG-7 to hold ‘Tapatan Road Show’ on May 24
By Eli C. Dalumpines
CEBU CITY, May 10 (PIA) --- The government’s campaign to promote transparency in governance, will again be placed at the center stage with the implementation of the full disclosure policy, an official of the interior department here said.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) -7 Regional Director Pedro Noval, in a recent radio interview, informed that his office is set to hold a “Tapatan Road Show” on May 24 to heighten the awareness of the local government officials on the issue of transparency.
Noval said DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo is expected to lead the dialogue with the localgovernment executives, officials of the national government agencies, members of the academe, non-government organization, the media and other stakeholders.
He said this is in line with the present administration’s thrust to keep the public informed of the transactions entered into by the government, thus reducing incidents of corruption.
Under the full disclosure policy, local government units (LGUs) are encouraged to post in their websites, bulletin boards or publications any documents that are considered public such as financial statements, bidding documents and projects that they are implementing.
Noval then invited the public to participate in the dialogue as they have an important role to play in the program.
The official also informed that the DILG-7 Regional Office will be launching its new website during the road show to serve as an example to the LGUs.
Aside from the dialogue, the DILG will also sign a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on the National Greening Program which is set to be launched in June. (FCR/ECD/PIA 7-Cebu)