The predominantly Ata-Manobo Municipality of Talaingod, this province has achieved high coverage rate in the supplemental immunization activity (SIA) dubbed as “Chikiting Ligtas” catch-up vaccination campaign in May 2023.
Data from Talaingod Municipal Health Office (MHO), published online by Talaingod Information Office, showed that Talaingod MHO tops in accomplishment rating for Measles, Rubella, Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR OPV SIA).
Based on MHO data from May 1 to 15 alone, Talaingod already registered 95.64% overall SIA coverage, of which 103.13 percent was achieved for OPV and 102.62 percent for Measles-Rubella vaccination.
Dr Joeffrey S. Mambucon of MHO Talaingod had optimistically projected this accomplishment during the regional launch of Chikiting Ligtas done in Talaingod on April 28.
He said his team would be able to cover all and could even go beyond the 3,000 targeted children because MR OPV vaccination already gained acceptance among Ata Manobo communities.
“For us, sa mga Manobo people dito, noon sobrang hirap, pag punta sa bundok, nagtatago yong mga parents, nagtatago yong mga bata dahil natatako sa bakuna. pero ngayon, after sa outbreak in 2017 and 2018 na tigdas, … ngayon sila na mismo ang lalapit sa mga health centers at kung alam nila na para sa habas o tigdas ang bakuna, tatanggapin nila. (For us Manobo people
here, it was very difficult before to cover the mountainous communities. Parents were hiding; children were hiding. But now, after the measles outbreak in 2017 and 2018, they are the ones going to health centers. If they know that these are for measles, they accept it),” he explained in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
Parents, guardians and grandparents from various Ata-Manobo communities of Talaingod warmly received the Chikiting Ligtas campaign as shown in the number of who those who turned out for the vaccination launch done at the Balimba Hills in Barangay Sto. Niño, Talaingod.
Expecting only 400, the Department of Health (DOH) XI generated some 800 participants including community health workers.
“Hindi ko masabi na surprised ako but i was amazed of the attendance. I am glad yong kanilang awareness is very high now. If we can recall, ang ating mga IPs ay most difficult community dahil napakalayo nila, kulang ang kanilang impormasyon,” said DOH Undersecretary Abdullah B. Dumama, noting the high turn-out of IP participants to the regional vaccination launch. (JMDA/PIA XI)
