Aznar urges health workers to inoculate children vs. measles

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Richard Francis F. Aznar, who is the chairman of the Committee on Health, Hospital, and Sanitation, has urged healthcare providers in the barangays to immunize children against measles.

“There is a need to intensify efforts both from City Health Officers and Civil Society to eliminate if not prevent the spread of Tigdas in the City,” Aznar said, in his proposed resolution.

He said the virus is highly contagious and any child without immunization is likely to get infected.

Measles, locally known as ‘tigdas,’ is a respiratory infection.

The virus is spread through coughing, sneezing, breathing, and infecting anyone who has not been vaccinated or had not contracted the disease before.

Measles is characterized by a rash that spreads quickly to cover most parts of the face and the whole body, including the lower extremities.

Parents are advised to bring their children to the nearest health facility if rashes on parts of the body appear.

Aznar said the conduct of the measles-rubella supplemental immunization campaign will avert a full blown measles outbreak and interrupt the transmission of the virus while accelerating the control of rubella targeting children ages 9 to 95 months.

The Department of Health already urged the public to report suspected measles cases to a healthcare provider before going to a hospital as a suspected measles case must first be evaluated as a precautionary measure to protect other patients and health workers from possible infection. Those with measles symptoms should refrain from going out to avoid putting others at risk. 

“There is an urgent need to conduct a measles supplemental immunization activity. All children ages 9-95 months old should be given a dose of measles-rubella vaccine through a door-to-door vaccination campaign,” he said.  (FREEMAN)