By Leilani S. Junio
NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur, 2 (PNA) — Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Janette L. Garin will lead the launching on Monday of the nationwide school-based immunization program for students in the Bicol Region at the Camarines Sur National High School in this city.
The program, which will be carried out during the whole month of August, covers all grade 1, grade 4 and grade 7 students in public school across the country.
It is in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd) and partners from other concerned agencies and organizations.
At the Camarines Sur National High School launching, Secretary Garin will be joined by top officials of the DOH Regional Office-5, the Iriga City Health Department, and local government officials of Camarines Sur, among others.
The Health chief, along with DOH health partners, will be administering the initial vaccinations to the first set of students who have parental consents on the immunization.
Aside from the DepEd and the DILG, other partners in the immunization program include religious and civil society organizations like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and international health partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and other advocates.
Under the school-based immunization program, the DOH will be providing immunization for the target children with measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and Diptheria, Pertussis and Tetanus Toxoid (DPT) vaccines.
According to DOH Region 5 Regional Director Dr. Emilia Monicimpo, the vaccines that will be administered to the children will help in protecting them from getting illnesses that are vaccine-preventable.
Keeping the children healthy and strong is in line with the goals of the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
As part of its social contract to the Filipino people and in fulfillment of its promise of giving access to the poor and vulnerable sectors of society, the government is focusing on promoting good health among its future generations — the children.
The vaccination is also part of the effort in ensuring that better health services are available to the Filipino people in line with the universal health care or “kalusugang pangkalahatan” strategy.
It is also a form of investment by the government because good health of the country’s population is a form of wealth by itself. (PNA)