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| Lanao del Sur IPHO Chief Dr. Alinader Minalang calls on LGUs to strategize and innovate to ramp up the vaccination drive against coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19) and meet the 70 percent immunization target. (Michael John Paclar / PIA Lanao del Sur) |
MARAWI CITY—The chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) in Lanao del Sur urged local government units (LGUs) in the province to adopt best practices to ramp up the vaccination drive against coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19) and meet the 70 percent immunization target.
“We launched several strategies. Meron tayong ginagawang (we have) fixed vaccination, meron tayong mga (we have) mobile vaccinations, but despite these efforts we have seen that our vaccination rate has not improved. Hindi pa rin tayo umabot ng (we still haven't reached) 10%,” said Dr. Alinader Minalang citing the need to come up with innovations to fast track the vaccination program
Only 8.2% of the 671,038 target population has been fully immunized against Covid-19 as of October 27, 2021. This consists of 6,528 frontline health workers, 6,401 senior citizens, 37,636 persons with comorbidities, 4,711 frontline workers in essential sectors, and three indigents.
“We have to come up with innovations like incentivizing activities o yung pagbibigay ng incentives, ayuda, recognition dun sa mga navavaccinate (giving incentives, aid, recognition to those vaccinated),” he said.
He further suggested that barangay units with high vaccination rates should also be rewarded.
Minalang who serves as the deputy chairperson of the Provincial IATF further pointed out the importance of revitalizing municipal health boards and establishing functional vaccination centers at the municipal level.
“It was also noted that yung ating mga LGUs, wala tayong functional na local vaccination operation centers. Ang nangyayari by schedule yung ating vaccination rollout. Hindi natin masusustain ito. Dapat we have to establish a functional local vaccination center in our municipalities,” he said.
[It was also noted that our LGUs do not have functional local vaccination operation centers. What is happening is that we are conducting our vaccination rollout by schedule. We cannot sustain it. We have to establish a functional local vaccination center in our municipalities.]
Apart from this, the IPHO chief recommended a partnership with religious leaders to boost the confidence of the public to get vaccinated.
He also encouraged LGUs to issue local ordinances such as requiring vaccination cards in entry to barangay or municipal halls, restaurants, or in the issuance of business permits, among others. (APB/PIA Lanao del Sur)
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