BONTOC, Mountain Province (PIA) -- Health and local officials are   encouraging all parents to have their young children avail of the measles, rubella and polio(MR-OPV) immunization to save them from the threats of these contagious diseases.

The province and municipalities thru their respective health offices joined in the launching of the    Department of Health (DOH) National Supplemental Immunization Campaign, CHIKITING LIGTAS 2023: "Join the Big Catch Up, Magpabakuna para sa Healthy Pilipinas" in May 2.  The campaign aims  to vaccinate 95 percent of the total population of children with ages 0-59 months old for polio and 9-59 months old for measles and rubella.

“With this campaign, we are aiming to vaccinate 95% of all children. However, beyond achieving numeral targets, the bigger, more important goal is ensuring a long and healthy life for our children by protecting them from their infancy through their childhood through immunization. By doing so, we can also prevent future outbreaks from these diseases, saving even more lives than we know,”  said Medical Officer IV Dr. Clarita Marquez of DOH-Cordillera.

Marquez shared that Cordillera recorded last year the lowest outcome in routine immunization since the tracking started in 2005, with only six out of every 10 children completing their Measles vaccine doses.

Michael B. Capuyan, Jr. of the Provincial DOH Office cited that measles remains a health challenge in Mountain Province for a long time. Its transmission rate is much higher and faster than the COVID-19, he said.

The common message of health workers is for all parents with young children to have their children immunized   against measles and rubella and polio. They just have to bring their children to the Rural Health Unit of their respective municipality    for the whole month of May. Aside from MR-OPV  immunization, the DOH is also providing Vitamin A supplementation.

Meanwhile, Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. through his representative, June C. Pinayakan, called for the cooperation of all sectors to educate people on said undertaking. He also reiterated the responsibility of the local officials to their constituents.

“In coordination with the various sectors of the community, we must do something to educate our people. They should be informed that many more illnesses or deaths would happen without vaccines” he said.

“Officials should always remember that part of their responsibility is to safeguard public welfare and advance public interest. Our health workers cannot do it alone; we need to work as one” he added.

Many national agencies, local government unit officials and employees signified their support for the said campaign. (JDP/CVBT-PIA Mountain Province)