Muling nirolyo ng Department of Health (DOH) ang kampanya nito kontra sakit na polio matapos pansamantalang ihinto dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic.
Katuwang ng DOH sa “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio” campaign ang World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Nitong Lunes, July 20 nang magsimulang lumakad ang kampanya sa Mindanao at Central Luzon. Target nitong bigyan ng polo drops ang mga batang 5-years old pababa ang edad hanggang August 20.
“Children under 10 years old in selected areas in Mindanao will also receive polio drops,” batay sa statment.
Sa Agosto naman magsisimulang lumakad ang bagong polio immunization campaign sa Laguna, Cavite at Rizal.
Ayon kay Health Sec. Francisco Duque III, mahalaga pa ring ituloy ang implementasyon ng polio response sa gitna ng pandemya para mapigilan din ang pagkalat ng sakit.
Kritika din umano ang malawakang approach ng pamahalaan at publiko para hindi na rin pumutok ang panibagong polio outbreak.
“Polio is a vaccine-preventable disease and we cannot let our gains over the years go to waste by deprioritizing our polio response,” ani Duque.
“It is imperative for parents and caregivers to have their children vaccinated, while strictly adhering to infection prevention and control protocols, as we cannot afford to overwhelm our health system with another outbreak.”
Kung maalala, isang 3-year old na bata sa Lanao del Sur ang tinamaan ng polio noong September 2019. Ito ang unang kaso ng sakit sa bansa matapos ang 19-taong pagiging polio-free ng Pilipinas.
Agad itong idineklarang polio outbreak ng mga opisyal, matapos sumulpot ang 15 iba pang bata na tinamaan ng sakit.
Ayon kay WHO country representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, mahalagang maisaisip din ng publiko na hindi pa tapos ang polio outbreak at dapat ipagpatuloy ang immunization sa mga bata.
“To the health workers as well as the parents, caregivers and the children participating in the
campaign: Be vigilant in practicing the preventive measures such as frequent hand hygiene, physical distancing and wearing of masks during planning, implementing and evaluating the polio response.”
Mula nang ilunsad ang kampanya kontra polio nong Hulyo ng nakaraang taon, umabot na sa 4.5-milyong bata sa bansa ang naabot ng immunization. Higit pa raw ito sa 95-percent na target.
“Unlike COVID-19, we already have a vaccine against polio that it is safe, effective and free at
health centers. The COVID-19 pandemic reminds us of the importance of vaccines to prevent diseases. Like wearing masks and physical distancing, each effort we make to vaccinate one child has the potential to protect all children from polio,” ani UNICEF Philippines representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov.
