2.4m Filipino kids risk getting measles: Experts

MANILA: About 2.4 million Filipino children under five years old are at risk to measles while the country’s atention remains focussed on containing the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic, local and international health experts have warned.

The Department of Health (DOH) said that as of August, 3,500 measles cases were reported throughout the country with 36 deaths. It added that most of the cases were children below the age of 5.

Other health experts also expressed grave concern that many children are missing out on routine immunisation in the Philippines due to the pandemic In this light, the DOH, World Health organisation (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) announced they would conduct a nationwide measles immunisation campaign involving 9.4 million children starting with at least six regions from Oct.26 to Nov.25 this year.

These include regions in Mindanao, Bicol as well as the Cordilleras, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley annd Mimaropa all on the main island of Luzon, officials said, adding that in February next year, the campaign will focus in the Visayas, Metro Manila, Central and Southern Luzon.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, a highquality immunisation campaign is urgently needed to stop measles transmission and possible outbreaks,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque.

“We encourage parents and caregivers to have their children immunised.”

Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the WHO country representative in the Philippines, agreed with Duque, saying that measles is highly contagious but a preventable disease.

“We must not lose the decades of progress,” Abeyasinghe pointed out, “we have achieved in immunising and protecting Filipino children even in the midst of the COVID pandemic.”

If let unatended, health experts warned that measles could lead to severe diarrhea and dehydration, pneumonia, ear and eye complications, encephalities or swelling of the brain and permanent disability.

Oyunsaikan Dendevnorov, the Unicef representative to the Philippines, noted that that the world is at an especially challenging time when immunisation of children is being threatened by the pandemic.

“All of us must do our part in ensuring children in our family are immunised and that we provide the correct information to parents, community members and our peers,” Dendevnorov said.

“COVID-19 is a challenge and a chance to reflect on what needs to change so that the Filipino children can survive and thrive.”