Duque: Measles cases now under control
END OF CRISIS SEEN
HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III revealed that the measles control program of the government is proceeding very aggressively throughout the country and gaining ground.
Speaking to newsmen after launching the Malasakit Center at Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC), the first in Pangasinan and the entire Region 1, Duque expressed confidence that the crisis is already under control, slowly meeting the target for vaccination of 2.4 million babies aged six months to five months.
He said it will be followed soon by the vaccination of about seven million children from kindergarten to grade 6, and the adult group of about 2.6 million.
He said today’s current data showed there were about 11, 459 measles cases already registered, with at least 189 deaths.
Duque said the situation will be completely reversed soon with many parents now personally bringing their children to be immunized with anti-measles vaccine.
“It was very lamentable to get reports of babies dying because of failure on the part of parents to have their children immunized with measles vaccine,” Duque said.
Duque said data show the National Capital Region still tops number of cases of measles, followed by Region 4, Region 6 and Region 10 and lately Region 1.
He said Region 1 and Pangasinan are luckier because their measles cases are still low.
Nevertheless, he called on city health offices and rural health units to continue their vaccination drives, by assuring that measles vaccine is safe and proven for more than four decades now.
Duque spearheaded the groundbreaking of the about to be constructed seven-storey Medical Arts Building at R1MC to be funded at a cost of P300 million.
Another seven-storey building will be constructed in another site soon.
Fourth District Rep. Christopher de Venecia, DOH Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan, Dr. Roland Joseph Mejia, RIMC chief, and others joined Duque in the groundbreaking rite.
In his speech during the launching of the Malasakit Center, Duque said there are now 24 centers across the country in order to ensure that patients and their kin will no longer do the “amazing race” of going from one agency to ask for help from them.
He said the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes, Department of Social; Services and Development, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the Department of Health are now housed under one roof at the R1MC
He credited former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong Go’ for the establishment of Malasakit Center. (Leonardo Micua)
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