Taguig intensifies infant immunization drive

MANILA, Philippines - The Taguig City government has intensified its infant immunization program as it encouraged parents to avail of the free vaccines at all of the city’s health centers.

“We all need protection from various illnesses especially for the very young people,” said Dr. Isaias Ramos, head of Taguig City Health Office.

Health officials said infants whose ages range from zero to 11 months are more prone to diseases.

Dr. Ramos said immunization plays an important role in their survival as well as to decline the mortality rate of babies. He said the vaccines can protect the babies from any infections and other diseases such as polio, tuberculosis, tetanus, hepatitis, and measles, among others.

To reduce the morbidity and mortality rate among children, the city government of Taguig is actively reaching out to parents to ensure that all babies are vaccinated.

Daisy Bulacan, supervisor of the Taguig City Health Office said should a mother and her baby fails to visit a health center for a scheduled vaccination, the city health staff will be the one to visit their home.

“We monitor all the babies who are taking and missing their vaccines. Through the ‘Reaching Every Purok’ or REP, babies who missed their vaccines will be visited at home and will be vaccinated,” Bulacan said.

All of the city’s health centers have available vaccines such as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), hepatitis B, Penta Hib, OPV, IPV, and MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) under the Expanded Program on immunization.

“These vaccines are now available. All they have to do is go to the nearest health center to get it for free,” Dr. Ramos said.

Aside from the aggressive immunization campaign, the City Health Office has been conducting   regular medical and dental missions that provide free health examinations, laboratory examinations, and free medicines.

Last year, the Medical Assistance Office and the City Health Office conducted a total of 142 medical missions and these were served to 38,193 patients and beneficiaries.

“Health and wellness are high on our priorities. Our city government makes sure that medical services are accessible,” Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano said.

The hard to reach communities in the city were also given access to free medical and dental checkups through the use of mobile clinics dispatched to provide the same services.

The city government also prides itself in its implementation of Doctors On-Call, a program just like the 911 of the United States of America where an ambulance with a doctor and a nurse will be dispatched to respond to a medical emergency.

Other popular programs of the city government include the delivery of maintenance medicines for diabetes, high blood, and asthma to the houses of beneficiaries; the free anti-rabies vaccines for animal bites available (from 8 am to 5 pm) in 24/7 health centers in Barangay North Signal and Barangay Ibayo Tipas.