DOH urged to replicate ‘Oplan Alis Disease’ in fight vs. polio

Senator Risa Hontiveros urged Friday the Department of Health (DOH) to replicate the success of Oplan Alis Disase as the agency aims to vaccinate 5.5 million children to prevent the rise of polio in the country. 

“I call on the DOH to replicate its success when it first eradicated polio during the term of Senator Juan Flavier under the program of Oplan Alis Disease,” Hontiveros said in a press statement.

She said Oplan Alis Disease was a massive immunization campaign against polio which led to the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the Philippines polio-free in 2000.

She said the success was achieved because of the combined efforts of both the public and private sectors and civic organizations.

“We had been a polio-free nation for 19 years. And the resurgence of the disease is alarming, not only because of the harm and risk that this brings to our communities, but more importantly, because this disease is completely preventable in the 21st century,” she said.

She said it was reported that the Philippines has experienced a declining trend in vaccine coverage, from above 80% in 2008, to below 70% in 2017. The vaccination coverage target set by the DOH is 95%.

Aside from the recent polio outbreak, the country also faces a measles crisis in at least four regions, as well as a dengue epidemic, she said.

Hontiveros also proposed realigning Malacañang’s increase in its intelligence fund in the 2020 budget to the Health Department.

She said that the Office of the President has requested an additional P2 billion in confidential and intelligence funds, or nearly double this year's total of P2.5 billion.

She said the money should instead be put to the DOH. She said under the proposed national budget for 2020, the DOH is set to receive only P160.15 billion, or 5% lower than this year's allocation of P169.45 billion.

"Ilaan ang lahat ng mailalaan na pondo sa serbisyong pangkalusugan. Unahin natin ang pagtulong sa libo-libong Pilipino na nagkakasakit at namamatay dahil sa iba't-ibang epidemiya imbes na sa mga kwestyonableng gastusin," Hontiveros said. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News