PAGADIAN CITY (Nov. 25, 2019)– Governor Victor J. Yu led on Monday
the ceremonial launching of “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio” in Zamboanga del Sur,
as part of the Department of Health’s (DOH) campaign against the contagious
disease.
The kickoff ceremony sought
everyone’s support in ensuring that no child misses out on polio vaccines. The first
round of the Mindanao-wide campaign begins November 25, 2019 up to December 7,
2019 and the next round on January 6-18, 2020.
During Monday’s flag raising
ceremony, Gov. Yu urged parents and caregivers in the province to submit their
children under five years old for oral polio drops to safeguard them from the
infection.
“Let us support this not just by
letting our own children and relatives to undergo the vaccination but also
inform the whole community that DOH is having this campaign in order to protect
our children”, Gov. Yu said.
On the same day, 1st
District Congresswoman Divina Grace Yu and Gov. Yu joined health personnel in
giving of oral polio vaccine to children at the Zamboanga del Sur Medical
Center.
Mrs. Dahlia Aseniero, Provincial
Health Education and Promotion Officer, said aside from barangay health centers, hospitals and schools, there will be vaccination teams who will conduct door-to-door
visitations to give OPV’s to children.
Polio is a highly communicable
disease spread through fecal-oral transmission. It is caused by the poliovirus
and may result in permanent paralysis and even death. However, the disease can
be prevented by vaccine.
The Synchronized Polio Vaccination
Campaign aims to boost immunization coverage against polio by giving three
doses of the oral polio vaccine to all children five years old and below,
regardless of their immunization status. DOH said full vaccination against the
poliovirus is the best way to prevent the transmission of the disease.