By Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — The Department of Education (DepEd) 6 (Western Visayas) has announced the conduct of a school-based measles immunization for unvaccinated Grades 1 and 7 students across the region from February until the end of March.
Victor de Gracia Jr., officer-in-charge of the Office of the Assistant Regional Director, said in a memorandum dated February 12 addressed to all school division superintendent that there is an urgent need to reach unimmunized learners in all schools due to the recent measles outbreak in the region.
The DepEd Division of Negros Occidental posted a copy of Regional Memorandum No. 050, series of 2019, on its Facebook page on Wednesday night.
De Gracia said the measles vaccination and Vitamin A supplementation program will be conducted in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) 6 during the period.
“Immediate parental consent shall be secured for identified unimmunized learners,” he added.
De Gracia also directed all doctors, nurses and staff of the Health and Nutrition Units to take the lead in the prompt implementation of the program in their respective divisions.
For the current school year, DOH-6’s free school-based health services aim to reach 123,771 Grade 1 pupils and 155,314 Grade 7 students in Western Visayas for immunization against measles, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria.
From January to February 12, DOH-6 has recorded 359 suspected measles cases in Western Visayas, 144 of which were from Negros Occidental.
Measles is a contagious viral illness characterized by fever, rash, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. This could be transmitted through the air, droplets, or direct contact with nasal and throat secretions of infected persons.
