HEALTH officials launched a free supplemental immunization program to protect nearly 700,000 Central Visayas children from measles, rubella, and polio, as well as to prevent future outbreaks of these diseases.
Dr. Jaime Bernades, director of the Department of Health in the region (DOH 7), urged the public to participate in the campaign dubbed as "Chikiting Ligtas 2023" to ensure the protection of children aged five years old and below against the vaccine-preventable diseases.
"Atong giawhag atoang mga ginikanan nga dad-on nila ilang mga anak sa mga health centers aron mabakunahan sa measles, rubella, ug oral polio vaccine," Bernades said on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
Ruff Vincent Valdeviesco, officer of the National Immunization Program of DOH 7, told SunStar Cebu that aside from administering the vaccines in health centers, local government health offices will also implement house-to-house vaccination.
"Karon ang mostly ginabuhat namo kay ang pagtuyok-tuyok og pamakuna adto sa ilang mga barangay. Ang mga health center nato karon, including na ang mga hospital ilabi na dinhi sa Cebu City," Valdeviesco said, adding that both public and private hospitals in Cebu City have partnered with them. (KJF)