MAYOR Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar led on Monday, July 20, the kick-off activity of the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio in Zamboanga City.

The activity was held in the village of Sta. Maria. It was organized by the Department of Health (DOH) in partnership with the City Health Office (CHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr. Emilia Monicimpo, DOH regional director, and representatives of the CHO and WHO, and some members of the City Council joined Salazar during the kick-off activity.

Corazon Pagotaisidro, CHO Immunization Program coordinator, said the anti-polio campaign for children zero to below 10 years old runs from July 20 to August 2.

Pagotaisidro said that health workers, who go house-to-house, will adhere to minimum health standards with the mandatory wearing of face shields and face masks amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

She said 32,685 children were vaccinated on Monday, the first day of the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio.

Pagotaisidro said they target to immunize 205,780 children in the city's 98 villages.

She said the 32,685 represents 16 percent of the 205,780 children targeted to be immunized against polio. (SunStar Zamboanga)