Over resurgent polio, measles, rubella

DOH sends off vaccination teams

For ‘Chikiting Ligtas’ drive in May

CORTES, Bohol, May 5 (PIA)-- TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol May 6 (PIA) --After three decades of zero-polio cases, the Philippines faces again an invisible enemy that can kill or at least cripple generations.

Polio, or poliomyelitis is a disabling viral disease that attacks the spinal cord, and causes muscle atrophy and deformities rendering the victim detained in bed or in severe cases, to death.

Polio has been among the preventable diseases by immunization.

According to the Department of Health (DOH) through Bohol Team Leader Dr. Portia Reyes, a recent random check done in the bodies of water in the Visayas confirmed the resurgence of the polio virus, one which has not been seen since the polio vaccination started in 1976.

Apart from polio, health authorities in the region have been alarmed by reports of suspected and confirmed cases of measles, again vaccine-preventable, Dr. Reyes said.

What has caused the problem?

As to the World Health Organization, the Philippines ranked second lowest among Asian countries on vaccination, one many ascribe to the disruption caused by the pandemic.

Bohol vaccination program coordinator and nurse at the Provincial Health Office Machiavellia Caliao confirmed that their teams had a hard time running the continuing vaccination campaign as parents thought it risky to get their COVID-vulnerable kids to the vaccination centers during those times.

PHO, in the last years reported low vaccination accomplishment, something that has potentially placed the kids in harm’s way.

Moreover, reports of lessened vaccine confidence has been noted in Philippine communities, including the unfounded apprehension that vaccines can have fatal effects, have saddled health workers.

With the problem, the DOH implements Chikiting Ligtas: Catch-up free Measles Rubella (MR) Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) Special Supplemental Immunization Program: a monthlong saturation immunization drive starting May 1-31.

Target for the nationwide vaccination drive are kids from zero months old to 59 months old, of newborn to below five year-olds, be they having been vaccinated already of the OPV MR, Caliao said.

Measles, also a vaccine-preventable disease, when left unattended could lead to broncho pneumonia and blindness while Rubella or sometimes called German measles, when it attacks a person can led to congenital anomalies, says Dr. Reyes.

The dire situation has pushed the DOH to implement the catch-up free supplemental OPV MR Special Immunization Activity which mobilizes the country’s extensive vaccination teams including Barangay Health Workers, to make sure that everyone kid is covered, Caliao, who leads the immunization activity reported.

This month, Bohol health authorities and vaccination teams hope to get to 123,000 kids which make up the 9 months old to 59 months old, be given the Measles Rubella subcutaneous shots.

As to the 0-9 months old babies, around 145,820 should have been reached and given the oral polio drops, Caliao shared.

While the local vaccination teams start scouring the country sides to get to those kids who have to be reached, first dose or supplemental, the threat of measles, rubella and polio lurk in the region, looking to attack that kid whose parents have been remiss in their responsibility, to gave their kid’s free vaccine dose. (rahc/PIA7/Bohol)

SAFE KIDS. With cases of polio, measles and rubella back in the DOH charts, the government shuffles in to mobilize and spread its vaccination teams to get to every kid from newborn to 59 months or below five years old free vaccines as they are the most vulnerable group against these three vaccine-preventable diseases. (PIABohol)

DON’T MISS THE CHANCE. Its either vaccination now or a potential risk of a lifetime care for a kid who would turn out to get polio anytime soon, this is the gist of the statement by Dr Portia Reyes, DOH Team Leader for Bohol while assuring that there are free vaccines available. (PIABohol)

DOST’s NuLab caps Bohol visit,

Month-long visit set next year

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 5, (PIA) –After a whirlwind visit to Bohol last week, the mobile science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEM) learning facility for senior high schools in the STEAM strand, will be back in Bohol for a month next year.

This is according to Department of Science and Technology Bohol Provincial Science and Technology Center Director Vina Antopina, last week.

The DOST through its Science Education Institute sent to Bohol its NuLab, a mobile science and technology learning facility and laboratory equipped with a huge interactive board as the teacher’s main board, individual monitor for students, laboratory-grade equipment, wireless sensors, internet connection and carries with it modern learning modules designed to help students discover their potentials in the various STEM fields and encourage them to take courses where they are most inclined to succeed and excel.

In Bohol last April 24-28, the NuLab, also brought in scientists from the country’s Balik Scientist Program, subject matter experts and former DOST scholars in nanotechnology, aerospace engineering, nuclear science, earthquake risk analysis, science media literacy, programming, oceanography, robotics, entomology, environmental science and still in so many interesting fields, to engage students into science and related subjects.

In its first stop at the Ubay National Science High School, April 24, STEM strand senior high school students took the chance to get a glimpse of applied chemistry inside the NuLab bus, as a chemist scientist conducts interactive experiments that opened students and teachers minds into the immensity of chemistry and its applied uses in the world.

In fact, because of her experience inside the NuLab, a Grade 11 STEM student here finds a new love in geology, which is quite off from her initial course choice in political science.

In the Nulab’s second pit stop in Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Technical Vocational School of Fisheries and Arts in Bien Unido, a former DOST scholar and now science teacher aired his appreciation at DOST’s effort to ease student’s perception against science and math.

By April 26, the NuLab rolled to another of its pit stops: in Manga National High School, where from topics in chemistry and microbiology, the scientist teacher expert engaged student into the fun and exciting world of Mathematics, drawing using excel and the mathematics behind computer graphics.

In the afternoon, the NuLab team unrolled its tarps in Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School where STEM senior high students got immersed in the world of environmental science with Balik Scientist and Central Visayan Institute Jagna teacher scientist Dr. Janneli Lea Soria, an expert in Coastal Geology, testing and analyzing water quality properties of water samples collected throughout the City.

By April 27, the NuLab team rolled to another stop: at the Tagbilaran City Science High School where students had their first peek at nuclear science and its significant industrial uses other than developing nuclear weapons.

Dr. Vallerie Samson, a scientist expert from DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute scoured the applications of nuclear science to health, food, and safety.

In the afternoon, Dr. Soria went back on board to talk about environmental science and marine biology, which also happens to be her field of expertise, talked about Bohol’s marine environment and the effects of population in the marine ecosystem.

As the NuLab Stem in Motion posted updates in their facebook page, Bohol school authorities openly asked the DOT to let the NuLab do quick stops in schools, but the team, which also campaigned to encourage students to apply to the DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarships, the agency’s flagship program, had its schedules pegged.

With the mobile learning environment’s visit to Bohol apparently piquing students’ interest in the sciences, schools have seen what would take them weeks to usher in the courses which STEM can help them prepare, it would take the NuLan one session.

With this and the popular demand to have STEM in Motion go back, the DOST has set the revisit next year,a nd it is going to be for a month, Antopina added. (PIA-7/Bohol)

WITH A PROMISE TO RETURN. The DOS SEI NuLab STEM in Motion mobile laboratory capped its 4-day visit to Bohol by stirring the minds and imagination of STEM Strand students in 5 schools with half day-sessions. DOST however said the mobile learning facility will be back next year and stays here for a month enough for senior high school students to take a peek into a course they can pick on and take in college. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)