Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Making Grade Pupils Disease-Free

The Department of Health (DoH) enjoins every agency to support its preventive program for the control of morbidity and mortality among school age children through immunization in August.

DepEd Memorandum No. 82, s. 2015,  was issued to this effect reiterating the proper guidelines issued by the DoH in the implementation of school-based immunization.

To ensure high levels of protection for diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus among children, this project should be carried and implemented anew since it was the focused of Expanded Program of Immunizaion (EPI) in 1975,

This program is geared towards the immunization of school children and adolescents who are enrolled in the school. The vaccines for  Measles Rubella (MR) and Tetanus Diptheria are intended for the grades 1 and 7, while HPV is for grade 4 pupils.

The Department of Education, Division of La Carlota City kicked off its program implementation yesterday to the students of Doña Hortencia Salas Benedicto National High School, and in the Special Education (SPED).

Turning over of LDS immunization poster
Turning over of LDS immunization poster

Helping Hands

Mormon Helping Hands is a community service-oriented program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to assist or help anyone who is in distress, educational institution to facilitate its program implementation like this latest DoH immunization program.

Latter-day Saints (LDS} Self-reliance leader Cristina Millado of La Carlota First Branch together with her volunteer members like Jena Pedroza and Ian Jardinico of Masville Branch, Ramil Pescador and Almon Tolones of La Carlota First Branch personally visited Balabag Elementary School and turned over the school-based immunization posters to this blogger who is the school principal in a simple rites.

Kids immunized held by their parents
Kids immunized held by their parents

Immunization Proper

Past ten in the morning, a group of City Health Personnel composed of Beaulah A. Seloterio, Loreta S. Castillo, , Eva G. Lianzar, and Devi Len Sibug; and Brgy. Balabag Health Workers composed of Mary Jane R. Ramo, Gloria M. Flores, and Arlene J. Dueñas, a arrived and started immunizing the grade 1 pupils with a complete parent's permit and in good health condition.

The Learning Resource Center (LRC) room of the school which served as the immunization room was filled with nervous, crying pupils. Parents, teachers and even the school principal HIMSELF assisted the CHO personnel in giving injection to the pupils by holding them, persuading them to be strong and don't be nervous or afraid.

Grade One teachers, Ms. Gerose Bedlan and Ms. Mahal Demabildo, Mrs. Nonalie Vargas-Ladrido, school clinic teacher facilitated and prepared the venue and the facilities for the immunization.

Around 84% of the total enrollment of grade one pupils had taken their shot for immunization. It was sad to note, however, that vaccine was short of supply. Kids who weren't vaccinated would be rescheduled for their shot later.

As per schedule issued by City Health Officer, Mrs. Erwin Frances B. Jalandoni of La Carlota, the school-based immunization would be extended until August 17, 2015.

School heads, school officials, internal and external stakeholders, particularly the school clinic teachers and school-based immunization focal person are to coordinate with this immunization activity in August. The Division Health and Nutrition Section and SGOD M and E team are to monitor this activity.

7 comments:

  1. It's really important for schools to do immunization like these to keeps pupils healthy.

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  2. This is a nice activity both by DepEd and DOH. Healthy students can perform better in school.

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  3. In the country sides this is really very important, a lot of parents are not yet well aware of this :)

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  4. It's so nice of Dep Ed to launch this campaign to ensure the children's health

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  5. Great program. We recently participated in the vaccination last year.

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  6. Glad to know Dep Ed is extending their health programs to school to reach out more people.

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  7. This kind of program is very essenstial , i recommend it to all school,

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