The Makati City local government on Thursday, April 11, announced that it will be conducting catch-up polio vaccination for children.
According to the local government unit (LGU), employees of the Makati City Health Department will hold catch-up polio vaccinations in barangays starting on April 15 until May 15 for children aged six weeks to 23 months while bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine will be given to kids aged 24 months to 59 months.
Children under five years old may also be taken to the nearest barangay health center for vaccination.
Aside from its vaccination programs, the Department of Health-Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD) also recognized Makati City and one of its lying-in clinics for their exemplary implementation of the newborn screening program.
During its Newborn Screening Program Recognition and Awarding Ceremony held on October 10 last year, DOH-MMCHD awarded Makati City and East Rembo Lying-In Clinic for their active newborn screening program from 2020 to 2022.
The local government unit (LGU) and the facility were included in the Top 5 LGUs and Facility categories of the agency.
Makati City Mayor Abby Binay also led the reopening of the city's three lying-in clinics.
The three facilities are the East Rembo Lying-in Clinic located on 23rd Ave., Bgy. East Rembo; Bangkal Lying-in Clinic at 1126 Rodriguez Ave., Bgy. Bangkal; and Guadalupe Nuevo Lying-in Clinic, along La Consolacion St., Bgy. Guadalupe Nuevo.
Binay said the lying-in facilities are open 24/7 to pregnant women under the following categories: low-risk pregnancy; mothers aged 20 to 34 years old; those who are expecting their second to fourth child; those who are 37 to 39 weeks pregnant; and those who have no previous record of undergoing surgery in the ovaries or any complications during pregnancy.
She added that those who are already on labor by more than 4 cms. will be admitted in the facilities where both mother and child will undergo a 24-hour observation.
Babies will also undergo newborn screening before being discharged from the hospital to ensure that they are healthy. Babies who have problems can stay in the facility for a couple of hours.
Aside from the pregnancy services, the lying-in clinics also offer seminars on family planning and correct birth spacing.