MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)-- In support of the government’s vaccination effort, Save the Children Philippines (SCP) and its partners are holding a #Vacc2School caravan to ensure that learners are safe and protected from COVID-19 as the back-to-school season commences.
SCP's Project Officer Felipe Lambayan said the caravan is in line with the organization's "Routine Immunization for Children Project: A Lifeline Interrupted by COVID-19" which aims to contribute to the reduction of the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases among children and adults in marginalized and underserved communities in the Bangsamoro region.
He said it is also in support of the Pinas Lakas Program of the national government.
The school-based vaccination drive kicked off last week in Mapandi Elementary School in Marawi City. The caravan also reached Bagoingud Elementary School in the municipality of Saguiaran on August 30 and Camalig Elementary School in Marantao on August 31.
Lambayan said the activity is conducted in partnership with Raheemah Peaceweavers Cooperative, RTI International, the Bangsamoro government's Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education, and the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
Aside from vaccination, the IPHO through the Rural Health Unit conducted health education sessions and promotion while RTI and Save the Children distributed packed meals and school supplies with hygiene kits, respectively.
Accordingly, the caravan will continue to visit schools around Lanao del Sur to achieve full vaccination coverage among underserved communities in the province.
The project coordinator said the school-based vaccination is set to end next week but the routine immunization project will last until November 2023.
The routine immunization project targets children 0-12 months for polio, tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, and measles immunization; children 5-17 years old for COVID-19 vaccination; pregnant women for tetanus immunization, and elderly people for COVID-19 vaccination.
The project covers Marawi City and seven municipalities of Lanao del Sur, namely, Saguiaran, Piagapo, Marantao, Balindong, Malabang, Marogong, and Tamparan.
Meanwhile, Lambayan called on unvaccinated individuals to support the government by getting inoculated against COVID-19.
"We would like to encourage lahat ng eligible population na magpabakuna at suportahan ang programa ng gobyerno dahil ito po ay para sa ating kabutihan, kabutihan ng ating mga mag-aaral upang sila ay safe sa kanilang pagbabalik sa pag-aaral," he said.
[We would like to encourage all the eligible population to get vaccinated and support the government's program because it is for our good, the good of our students so that they are safe when they go back to school.] (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
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