TACLOBAN CITY, Sept 2 (PNA) — Health Assistant Secretary Paulynn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial lauded The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) for its contribution to the nationwide measles immunization program this month.
Ubial said that the church is one of the major supporters of the massive measles elimination drive that aims to reach at least 85 percent of the 13 million children highly vulnerable to the disease.
“The LDS is one of our major donors in this campaign. Aside from providing vaccines, the church also donated indelible inks that will be used to put a mark on a child’s finger after receiving the vaccine,” she said in a press briefing Monday.
The LDS Church and LDS Charities, the social arm of the Church recently turned over 65,000 markers and 20,000 vaccine carriers to the Philippine government.
“They will also open their church buildings as vaccination posts and mobilize some of their members to assist in the immunization campaign and raise public awareness,” Ubial added.
Some 40,000 health centers and other vaccination posts will be opened for the mass immunization from September 1 to 30, 2014.
The month-long massive vaccination is a partnership between the DOH, World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, and LDS.
“Sponsored by LDS Church, the LDS Charities is an application of the admonition of Jesus Christ to help others in need. Jesus Christ taught His followers to give meat to the hungry and drink to those who thirst,” the Church stated.
“His is a gospel that includes taking in the stranger, loving neighbors as self, and visiting those who are sick or imprisoned. He taught that we are to love and care for each other, visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions, and lift up those whose hands hang down and whose knees are feeble.”
The project will cost about P200 million, a consolidated amount from the Philippine government and non-government organizations.
Aside from measles, the campaign will also reach out children that are at risk to polio, a highly infectious viral disease invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis among children.
Measles vaccination is one of six ongoing global projects sponsored by Church Humanitarian Services to help people become more self-reliant.
The other five initiatives include neonatal resuscitation training, clean water projects, wheelchair training and distribution, food production and vision treatment. (PNA)