MANOLO FORTICH PARTICIPATES IN THE NATIONWIDE SCHOOL-BASED IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM OF DOH

SBI or Bakuna Eskwela revival

October 7, 2024 - The Municipal Health Office of the Local Government Unit of Manolo Fortich saw through the successful kickoff activity of the School-Based Immunization (SBI) or Bakuna Eskwela program which took place inside Manolo Fortich Central Elementary School's (MFCES) covered court.

SBI is a program of the DOH in partnership with the Department of Education which first started in 2015. However, due to COVID-19, the program was temporarily suspended. This year, DOH and DepEd launched its revival to selected public schools in various provinces nationwide to protect the children from life-threatening but vaccine-preventable diseases. The vaccine for the prevention of measles, rubella, diphtheria, and tetanus will be injected into Grades 1 and 7, while Grade 4 female students will receive the vaccine for HPV, or Human Papilliomavirus.

“Ang vaccination, mao na ang act of injecting the vaccine. Ang Immunization, mao na siya ang process sulod sa atong lawas para makahimog protection atong lawas kontra sa mga vaccine-preventable diseases. Immunization is a safe and effective way to protect our children from serious diseases,” stated by Dr. Inamol-Hassan Lucman of DOH DTTB (Doctors to the Barrios).

There are 13 teams who will take charge of the vaccination, composed of personnel from the Provincial Health Office under DOH along with personnel from MHO. The teams will visit public schools (Elementary, Integrated, and National High Schools) in the 22 barangays where they will conduct the vaccination. The target percentage of students to be vaccinated is 95% through the cooperation of the parents. A consent form needs to be signed by the parent before the vaccination. Immunization is not recommended for children with fever or flu, but it is acceptable for those with mild cough or cold. The Bakuna Eskwela will last the entire month of October.

BPH Chief Nurse Jeanifer Abas Malazarte, a former National Immunization Program Coordinator (Provincial), expressed her gratitude towards Municipal Mayor Rogelio N. Quiño for his support. “Diri sa Manolo [Fortich] si Mayor Quiño always supports all the health programs, and of course atong SB si Doktora Joy Cordovez, grabi. Basta health program anaa sila kanunay nga magsuporta para kani nga ma-proteksyunan ang atong mga kabataan and dili pod ni siya mahimo kung wala ang suporta sa atong mga ginikanan, so I am very thankful,” said Malazarte.

Johanna Ricafort of Barangay Tankulan consented to the vaccination of her 6-year-old Grade 1 daughter because she believed it would benefit her daughter in the future. “Actually, paghatag palang daan sa amo sa consent form gibasa gyud to nako unsay nakasulat sa form. So, since kompleto man siyag immunize naa napud koy idea nga magamit niya in the future, makaayo ni saiya sa pagdako niya. Malikay siya sa mga grabi nga sakit ug protection karon niya samtang bata pa siya.”

The effort marks a significant shift as the program returns from community-based immunizations to its original school-based setup after face-to-face classes resumed. Protecting the future generation from vaccine-preventable diseases remains a top priority for DOH and DepEd, and with the support of the local government, we can ensure that the children of Manolo Fortich will be safeguarded from these life-threatening diseases.