Taguig tops anti-polio drive in MM
Taguig City ranked first among local government units in Metro Manila in the implementation of the Department of Health (DOH)’s polio vaccination campaign.
Based on coverage assessment by the DOH and World Health Organization, a total of 96,866 children under five years in Taguig have received oral polio vaccines, or more than 100 percent of the target population.
The DOH launched the 14-day “Sabayang patak kontra polio” drive in the metropolis after declaring an outbreak of the disease in September.
Jennifer Lou De Guzman, Taguig’s national immunization program coordinator, said the local government administered polio vaccinations in barangay health centers and conducted house-to-house visits.
“Our doctors and barangay health workers voluntarily worked even on weekends to make sure that we reached our target,” De Guzman said.
Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde lauded the city government for responding to the DOH’s call to eradicate polio amid the reemergence of the disease two decades after the Philippines was declared polio-free.
De Guzman said the city health office continues to monitor cases of acute flaccid paralysis to ensure polio eradication.
She added that the health office of Taguig provides free immunization against measles, hepatitis B, BCG and Influenza Type B.
Girls aged nine to 14 are also given free shots of human papilloma virus vaccine to protect them from cervical cancer, according to De Guzman.