Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque yesterday revealed that Laguna is being closely monitored for the presence of polio virus even as the Department of Health tapped various civic organizations and local government units to help administer anti-polio vaccines to some 5.5 million children.
Duque also asked the cooperation of LGUs to ensure a “zero open defecation” among their constituents, noting that poor public sanitation could slow down government efforts to bring the country back to a polio free status.
Duque issued the call shortly after signing a memorandum of agreement with ten Rotary International governors for the joint implementation of the “Patak Polio” program through a house-to-house vaccination starting Oct. 14.
Led by House Majority Leader and RI District 3780 Gov. Bernadette Herrera Dy, Rotary organizations nationwide will conduct a nationwide information campaign to convince Filipinos about the safety and efficacy of polio vaccines.
Herrera assured the DoH that the House is ready to help in funding DoH anti-polio programs to contain the spread of the deadly poliomyletis virus.
“May minomonitor tayo sa Laguna. Hintay lang natin ang confirmation,” Duque said.
The Health official confirmed that an international research organization has blamed the Dengvaxia scare for eroding public confidence on State-initiated vaccination programs. (Ben Rosario)
