DOH strengthens fight for an HPV-free future
The government, the health care industry, parents and their daughters continue the fight for a human papillomavirus-free future through the HPV school-based immunization program (SBIP) recently launched by the Department of Health (DOH).
The HPV immunization initiative was previously implemented through a community-based approach, but recently shifted to SBIP to expand its scope and be able to concentrate efforts to reach more target beneficiaries and vaccinate 720,000 young girls aged 9-13 nationwide.
The regional launches of the SBIP started in August, which was declared as School-Based Immunization Month by the DOH. The inaugural vaccinations were held in Nueva Ecija, Zambales and Pampanga — provinces that were recently included in the national immunization program that has now covered 56 provinces and key cities, from a previous count of 20 key provinces.
In Region 3, over 400 Grade 4 female pupils from public elementary schools received their first of two doses of quadrivalent HPV vaccine. The second dose will be administered in the beneficiary schools after six months.
An initial 103 girls received the vaccination during the SBIP launch in Nueva Ecija held at the Guimba East Central Elementary School and graced Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrelita Suansing, Guimba Mayor Jose Dizon, schools division superintendent Dr. Ronaldo Pozon, Department of Education (DepEd) district supervisor Dr. Caesar Lopez and provincial health officer Dr. Benjamin Lopez.
“I already had the HPV vaccine together with my daughter. I personally support this program because it takes the modern healthcare benefit of immunization easier to attain for young women and prevent unnecessary suffering caused by HPV infection such as cervical cancer,” Suansing noted.
For the Zambales regional launch, some 200 girls from 13 schools were given vaccination at the San Felipe Multi-Purpose Hall. San Felipe Mayor Carolyn Fariñas, municipal health officer Dr. Salome Arinduque, DOH Region III non-communicable diseases cluster head Dr. Maila Rostrata and provincial health officer Dr. Editha Divino graced the launch.
“Taking the HPV immunization in schools helps us ensure that no one gets left behind in the fight against HPV. Health should always be a priority, hence, we at Zambales are thankful for this initiative that helps us promote our health governance agenda,” Fariñas said.
Meanwhile, 107 girls were vaccinated at Mexico Elementary School in Mexico, Pampanga in a ceremony attended by provincial health officer Dr. Imaculada Labrador, Dr. Imee David from the DOH and DOH Region III Expanded Program on Immunization nurse coordinator Sheila Ann Esteban.