CITY OF KORONADAL — Stakeholders in the forthcoming Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio (SPKP) Round 3 attended the Stakeholders Meeting on SPKP Round 3 spearheaded by the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) SOCCSKSARGEN Region held recently at Paraiso Verde Resort here.
Attendees include the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Education (DepED), private hospitals, non-government organizations, and members of the tri-media, among others, to listen to updates particularly on the mechanics of the conduct of the bivalent Oral Polio Vaccination (bOPV) – Types 1 & 3 which will start on July 20 until August 2.
The Philippines, according to DOH, has already recorded nationwide 16 cases of polio, a disease that cause paralysis of extremities and afflicts individuals during their early childhood. Six (6) of the said cases are from SOCCSKSARGEN Region located in Cotabato City (1 case), North Cotabato (1 case) and Sultan Kudarat (4 cases).
Natioal Immunization Program (NIP) Manager Genesis Navales, RN in her message said that World Health Organization (WHO) defines eradication simply as “reaching the unreachable especially the most vulnerable.”
With that, DOH sets the target at 95% of its targeted population of 0 – 59 months old children and will employ both house-to-house and fixed post strategies in the bOPV Synchronized Mass Immunization, according to Navales.
During the activity, PHO II Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr. and PHO I Dr. Alah Baby Vingno of IPHO gave their respective message of support and instruction particularly to health workers directly involved in the vaccination.
An open forum ensued after the Arjphn Gangoso, RN, Health Education Promotion Officer II of DOH SOCCSKSARGEN talked on “Polio Outbreak Communication Response” to cap the half-day activity.
Health workers involved in the 14-day bOPV will likewise observe the wearing of face mask, physical distancing of 1 – 2 meters during the house-to-house campaign and will also ensure that the fixed posts are well-ventilated and properly disinfected as part of the health protocols due to the on-going CoViD-19 Pandemic.
