MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, June 22 --– Towards the goal of making Lanao del Sur a measles-free province, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) here continues to conduct the free anti-measles vaccination.
Dr. Alinader Minalang, provincial health officer II of the IPHO, told Radyo ng Bayan that the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MRSIA) is still on-going since not all children were covered during the MRSIA last April 11-May 11, 2011.
“Noong isinagawa namin ang MRSIA, may mga bata na hindi dinatnan ng ating mga health workers sa kani-kanilang mga bahay dahil isinama ng kanilang mga magulang o nasa ibang lugar nagbabakasyon,” he said.
The MRSIA was a nationwide aimed at eliminating measles by 2012 and accelerating the control and prevention of German measles, otherwise known as Rubella, through immunization of children aged nine (9) months and below eight (8) years old, regardless of their immunization status.
Minalang reported that about 150,000 children or approximately 90 percent of the targeted children in the province were vaccinated against measles when the MRSIA was conducted last month.
He said they were able to attain such accomplishment because of their ‘Reach Every Barangay’ strategy as well as through the support of local officials and non-government organizations.
Minalang also advised parents to bring their children to the rural health units and have them vaccinated against measles for free.
He further disclosed that measles in the province dropped down to 22 cases this year compared to the 60 cases recorded last year.
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