May 12, 2023 – The City Health Office chaired by Dr. Mariano Antonio T. Banzon led the Town Hall Meeting on Measles Rubella Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-OPV SIA) and Routine Immunization Project “Chikiting Ligtas 2023” at Doña Francisca Covered Court, Balanga City.
On behalf of Mayor Francis Anthony S. Garcia, Vice-Mayor Vianca Lita Gozon, and Hon. Christian Laurence Z. Manalaysay, SP Co-Chairperson on Committee on Health Hon. Jowee N. Zabala attended the activity. Also present to grace the event were Hon. Ernie Nisay, ABC President, Dr. Rosanna M. Buccahan, Provincial Health Officer, Province of Bataan and Dr. Francisco Hermoso III, Division Management Officer III of PDOH Bataan wherein they acknowledged and expressed their gratitude to the Provincial and Regional Department of Health, Provincial Health Office, City Health Office, Health Promotion Board, Bataan Pediatric Society, City Government of Balanga, and Barangay Health Workers and Officials for their utmost collaborative support and efforts for the success of this vaccination program in Bataan.
Meanwhile, Ms. Theresa Marie V. Bondoc, Health Education Promotion Officer III of DOH Central Luzon Center for Health and Development, highlighted the significance and objectives of the program in which she emphasized that guardians and parents must not be afraid to bring their children to the nearest rural health centers to avail these free, proven safe and effective vaccines as early as now to prevent and eliminate the number of cases of rubella, polio, and measles.
According to the data given by the PDOH and CHO, they already vaccinated and accomplished 55% of the population of children under 9 – 59 months as of May 11, 2023 and are still pushing that every child in Bataan should be vaccinated to reach the target of 85% at the end of the month to ensure that every chikiting is ligtas for #HealthyPilipinas in the risks of infections and complications brought by the said life-threatening diseases.
Ms. Vilma V. Rodrigo, National Immunization Program Coordinator of CHO, further shared that this Supplemental Immunization Activity currently prevents 3 million deaths from these diseases every year, and that this activity only happens when there are risks of outbreaks in the province. She also mentioned that the on-going risk of COVID-19 is not a hindrance in continuously providing immunization programs and primary healthcare services, addressing public health concerns, and striving for national and global health security for everyone, which is also under the programs and initiatives of the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and DOH.
Meanwhile, participants, specifically the children of under 9 – 59 months, wore various costumes portraying different characters. Loot bags were given to them as a token and giveaway for participating in the vaccination program. Also, prizes were given to the winners of the game of true or false myths and facts about immunization and vaccination.
