CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Governor Lilia Pineda on Thursday ordered all village officials in this province to position barangay service vehicles in front of schools, health centers, and rural health units for immediate response in emergency cases involving children vaccinated with Dengvaxia.
The order came in the midst of the controversy on the anti-dengue vaccine administered on some 47,358 public school children in the province last year.
The governor told the village officials to devote the use of their respective barangay patrols as service of anti-dengue vaccinated children in case there is a need for them to be brought to the hospital.
“I asked all of you (village officials) to refrain from using the barangay patrol unless for emergency situations,” Pineda said.
This is in connection with the instruction of the Department of Health (DOH) to immediately bring to the hospital the Dengvaxia-vaccinated school children who will be monitored suffering from fever or any sickness.
Pineda added that in times like these or in a critical situation like what the country is experiencing due to the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine, time is of the essence in saving lives.
She cited the case in Candaba town, where a Dengvaxia-vaccinated child died due to related dengue symptoms.
“If only this child was monitored and brought to the hospital at the onset of fever, she must have been saved. This is why I am asking officials to station patrol vehicles near the schools and rural health centers for the use of health workers and teachers who are obliged to bring the students to hospitals,“ the governor said.
Pineda also warned officials against charging to the family any amount for gasoline, toll fee or driver’s fee in the use of the barangay patrol.
The provincial government of Pampanga issued service vehicles to all 505 barangays to serve its purpose of responding to medical needs of the local folks in the communities. (PNA)
