DOH Urges Parents to Avail Free Measles Immunization

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said it is set to utilize its full force for the nationwide immunization campaign on measles rubella and polio vaccine this coming September 1-30, 2014.

DOH regional office in Central Visayas is preparing all its facilities, equipment and even personnel to conduct these activities regionwide.

Dr. Emellie Pflieder-Silao, Medical Officer III,Child Health Program Coordinator, DOH 7 during the AGIO Forum, requested all parents to refer their children ages 09 months to 59 months to the nearest health center in their areas for measles rubella immunization.

Silao also explained that the oral polio vaccine will be applied to all newly born children up to the ages of 59 months.

The DOH has triggered to launch this massive measles immunization program after a high increase in volume of these cases were discovered this year.

Regional Epidemiologist and Surveilance Unit Chief Renan Cimafranca of DOH 7 said they have recorded at least 1,098 measles cases from January 1, 2014 to August 10, 2014, a 92 percent increase from its 2013 recorded incidents of only 147 cases of the same period.

Cimafranca also considered this as epidemic and alarming considering the fact the country is now supposedly measles free since 2010 yet.

“Our country is supposed to be considered as measles free since 2010 yet, but with its alarming increase this year we can not take this as an easy problem but it causes us so much alarm”, Cimafranca told.

Meanwhile, Cimafranca was glad to report that the nation is now already a polio free country since 2001.

She said measles immunization is free of charge and anybody could avail the services of any barangay health workers 24 hours a day, and seven days a week.

“You could just imagine if you go to a private doctor for measles immunization, you have to pay at least P1,000,but the DOH is giving it for free to everybody”, Cimafranca said.

He also stressed that Cebu City and province has the highest number of measles cases among the four provinces in the region, followed by Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.

That is the reason why they encouraged every parent who have a new born children or 59 months old to avail the oral polio vaccine and rubella measles immunization for children with ages 9 months to 59 months.

“If all will just heed our call and submit themselves regularly for measles immunization and oral polio vaccination, we believe that sooner or later we become measles free Philippines”, Cimafranca added.