By Analou De Vera
The Department of Health (DOH) said that it has achieved its target of reaching 95-percent coverage for the second round of its Synchronized Polio Vaccination campaign in Mindanao.
Dr. Rolando Enrique Domingo (R), Undersecretary of the Department of Health (DOH)
(REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
"We are happy but kailangan isustain . We need to sustain kaya meron pa tayong third round ," said Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo in an interview.
In a data provided by Domingo, a total of 2,937,327 children, aged 0-59 months old, from the six regions in Mindanao were vaccinated with the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).
In Zamboanga Peninsula, a total of 423,699 children aged 0-59 months old, were given OPV. In Northern Mindanao, it had 554,239 vaccinated children; Davao region with 550,347; Soccsksargen with 527,977; Caraga Region with 308,116; and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with 573,096.
The second round of the Synchronized Polio Vaccination in Mindanao happened last November 24 to December 13. It was supposed to end on December 7 but fell short to reach the 95 percent target, thus the extension. Meanwhile, the last round of vaccination will be on January 6, 2020.
Domingo said that some health workers had difficulty in accessing hard-to-reach areas in Mindanao.
"May mga ibang nahihirapan tayo kasi malayo, very isolated. Yung iba meron pang peace and order situation na dapat -i-address ," he said.
Domingo said that they asked assistance from the local government units and members of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines to penetrate these kind of areas.
Domingo said that the health workers have "unwavering dedication."
“Unwavering naman ang dedication ng ating mga health workers . They still go and they still work day-in and day-out,” he said.