GOVERNOR Dennis Pineda urged the public to bring back their trust and confidence on vaccines to help the provincial government in instituting measures to protect their lives.
The governor led the ceremonial anti-measles vaccination administered to students, together with Second District Representative Mikey Arroyo, during the relaunching of the “Pampanga-Balik Tiwala sa Bakuna” Program held at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in the City of San Fernando.
During the event, Pineda asked the public to support the preventive health care programs of the government.
“Kailangan ko po ang inyong tulong. Kailangan full force ang provincial government at ang DOH para ma-implement ang mga programs na ito,” Delta urged.
(I need your help. The provincial government and DOH should be ‘full force’ in implementing these programs)
According to him, it is the primary advocacy of his administration to ensure Kapampangans’ health and welfare. Supporting these programs and services of the government can help the province achieve “community immunity”, he said.
Moreover, Provincial Health Office (PHO) head Dr. Marcelo Joachico said the same campaign held last year has garnered commendable results.
“Dahil sa campaign po natin last year, marami pong magulang ang nagtiwala ulit sa bakuna. Sa katunayan po, mula 68% naging 98% po and immunization ng measles natin sa probinsya,” Joachico said, as he shared the outcome of last year’s campaign.
(Because of our campaign last year, more parents regained their trust on vaccines. In fact, the immunization against measles in the province reached 98 percent from 68 percent [last year])
Assistant Secretary Maria Francia Laxamana of the Department of Health (DOH) agreed and said, “It’s really a good thing that the provincial government is working with DOH to extend programs that would benefit the wellbeing of the Kapampangans.”
For his part, Congressman Arroyo pledged his support to Pineda in addressing the health needs of their kabalen.
“Together with Governor Delta, we will focus on the needs of the Kapampangans,” Arroyo said.
Meanwhile, Regional Director Dr. Cesar Cassion of the Central Luzon Center for Health Development, said the province of Pampanga, in partnership with DOH, Department of Education and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) started conducting a free School-Based Immunization Program for public elementary school students to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, and Human Papilloma Virus.
The SBI Program targets to accommodate at least 125,000 children until the latter part of September.