P'gasinan ranks 5th in PH in vaccination

Lingayen- - -Pangasinan now ranks 5^th among the 81 provinces in the country in terms of most number of children administered with measles rubella and oral polio vaccines.

Dr. Eric Tayag, Department of Health Assistant Secretary paid a courtesy call on Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., as he came to the province on September 17  to personally monitor the development of the month-long health project of the national government which seeks to cover all children in the country with ages 0 to 5 years.

Popularly known as the dancing doctor, Asec Tayag commended Pangasinan under the leadership of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. for responding excellently on the project as he said that the province is on the right track not only its full throttle vaccination process but also with other aspects of health development.

Pangasinan, according to Tayag, has fast secured a spot among one of the top implementing provinces in just a span of two weeks of the month-long vaccination program. “We are here to personally observe and see exactly how you are able to do this so that we can also teach and share your techniques with other provinces,” he disclosed.

Tayag said that there are still two weeks to go before the program ends and he urges the Pangasinan team to aim for a higher ranking among the best-performing provinces.

Asec Tayag also hailed the province for its efficient ‘health service delivery network’ where the grassroot workers play vital role.

Dr. Anna Maria Teresa De Guzman, Provincial Health Officer, said the present administration has strengthened its barangay-based service with the barangay health workers (BHWs) serving as frontliners.

“Ang mga BHWs po namin ang siyang in-charge sa paghahanap ng mga batang kailangang bakunahan or kahit anumang health needs ng mga tao sa kanilang area. Kabisado po kasi nila ang kanilang area,” the health officer said.

As of September 15, the PHO reported that a total of 178,960 toddlers whose age ranges from 9 to 59 months were given MR vaccine while some 204,340 whose ages are from 0 to 59 months were administered with OPV vaccines.

Measles-rubella-polio mass immunization is now linked-up with routine immunization to realize the national government’s vision for a measles-free country in the next few years. /RRB