DILG asks CAR LGUs: Step-up health standards with rise of pertussis, measles cases
By Chito Chavez
With the reported rise in the number of measles and pertussis cases in the region, the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Cordillera (DILG-CAR) prodded the local government units (LGUs) to intensify preventive health measures against the spread of infectious diseases in their localities.
Through the Local Health Boards, DILG-CAR Director Araceli A. San Jose urged the LGUs to enforce minimum public health standards (MPHS) in their localities and to help echo the Department of Health’s (DOH) call to strengthen information and education (IEC) campaigns on vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs).
San Jose issued the call after reports from the DOH-CAR revealed that a total of 91 cases of pertussis or “whooping cough” were recorded in the region as of May 4, 2024 with most of the recorded cases involved children, with the youngest being less than six months old.
The DOH-CAR also found that 65 percent of the pertussis cases involved patients that are unvaccinated with the one-fold increase in measles or “tigdas” cases in the region at 49 cases, up from 24 in 2023.
“We call on our LGUs to complement the efforts of the national government at the local level in educating our constituents about early disease detection, preventive measures, and the appropriate handling of these diseases. We must intensify our IEC efforts,” San Jose said.
She also emphasized the role of the provincial, city, and municipal health offices in ensuring the availability and accessibility of vaccines in all health centers within their respective jurisdictions and underscored the need to coordinate efforts with the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs).
“Our local health boards should also be on top of this matter to ensure that the services, facilities, and relevant logistics are in place to control the potential spread of these diseases. We must help spread the message that these diseases are preventable by ensuring that our citizens are well aware of the options and services available to them,” San Jose ended.