THE Iloilo City Government through City Health Office conducted series of training for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) at City Hall recently to improve involvement of the community in the implementation of Reaching Every Purok (REP) strategy under Expanded Immunization Program (EPI).

Some 300 BHWs from Jaro 1 and 2, City Proper 1 and 2, Mandurriao, Molo, Arevalo, Lapuz, and La Paz comprised the four batches.

“This program will give chance to our future generation to be disease-free. Vaccination will keep them safe from any illness. As BHWs, you are tasked to make sure that every infant in your barangay can avail of free immunization,” Mayor Jose Espinosa III said.

National Immunization Program coordinator Marites Tan said the training focused on the orientation of REP strategy and the benefits of immunization in reducing diseases in infants.

“Our participants serve as front liners since they are the ones visiting every household. REP will be different from the regular Wednesday immunization routine. BHWs will visit every purok, make a master list of infants aging 0-15 months, then they’ll give the data to the staff of the nearest health center. They need to make sure that these infants have fully completed the recommended immunization,” Tan added.

Vaccines to be given are BCG and Hepatitis 24 hours after birth; three doses of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), Diphtheria Pertussis, Pneumonia, Hepatitis B, Meningitis (DPT HepB-HIB) and Pneumonia, Meningitis, Bacteremia, Middle Ear infection, Sinusitis (PCV) from 1 ½- 3 ½ months; and two doses of Measles Mumps and German Measles (MCV) when the infant reaches 9 and 12 months. (PR)