SOUTH COTABATO — Immunization programs especially among infants and other health programs are continuing on a province-wide scale here despite the on-going CoViD-19 pandemic which is now the primary national health concern and has caused lockdowns among LGUs in the country.
Genesis Navales, RN, National Immunization Program Manager (NIP) of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) disclosed that the province have never been remised in conducting the routine immunization particularly among newborn infants.
Newborn infants, Navales said are given BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) vaccination and followed 45 days later by Pentavalent vaccine – DPT or (Diphtheria, Pertussis-Whooping Cough, Tetanus), Hepatitis B vaccination and HIb or Haemophilus Influenza Type b vaccine.
Aside from immunization, IPHO also stepped up their Family Planning (FP) Program such as allocation and distribution of FP commodities – DMPA, Pills, Condoms, among others, and service provision such as implant/Insertion and counseling.
IPHO expects an increase in pregnancies and deliveries 9 months after the lockdowns imposed by the national government and local government units.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) has ordered the resumption of the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio (SPKP) Round 3 – Oral Polio Vaccination (OPV) campaign for 0–59 months old children from July 20 to August 2.
According to DOH-CHD SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Director Dr. Aristides Concepcion Tan the move to resume the campaign is to address the current polio outbreak in the country and prevent further polio infection.
SPKP round 3 will employ the Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (Types 1 & 3) during the campaign.
IPHO will conduct an SPKP Micro-Planning together with Municipal and City Health Officers on June 22-23 to discuss what strategies to employ during the SPKP such as house-to-house and/or fixed post or both.
