Close to 840,000 kids to get anti-polio vaccine in BARMM amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim M Mindanao (BARMM)on Monday assured its residents that no child in the region would be left unvaccinated against the poliovirus as the nation deals with the threath of COVID-19.

In a statement, the MOH said the Department of Health’s synchronized polio vaccination campaign “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio,” which will be from July 20 to August 20, will be conducted among 839,677 children in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The MOH said the campaign aims to stop the poliovirus outbreak in the country by immunizing children against the virus.

“We are doing this campaign for the sake of our children in BARMM, we cannot allow them to be exposed to many health risks while facing health crisis,” health minister Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan said.

The MOH assured that community-based public health practitioners assigned for the polio vaccination will strictly observe health and safety measures during the campaign.

Based on the guidelines set by MOH, aside from wearing personal protective equipment, a “no touch approach,” wherein only the parent or guardian can hold the child’s face/mouth and finger, will also be implemented.

The MOH added that the vaccinators are not those on duty in COVID-19 wards and quarantine centers in the respective communities.

Meanwhile, Bangsamoro chief minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim urged residents to participate in the campaign.

“Inaanyayahan po namin ang lahat na makiisa sa programa na inihanda laban sa polio. We assure that the region’s overall health care is protected and competent,” he said.

In September 2019, the country declared a national polio outbreak following the confirmation that a three-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur contracted the virus. It is the first polio case since its eradication in the country 19 years ago.—LDF, GMA News