By NG Seruela
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF Philippines on Friday (June 11) lauded the efforts of the Department of Health (DOH) that ended the polio outbreak in the Philippines.
The DOH officially ended the polio outbreak on June 3, following no further detection of the virus in a child or in the environment in 16 months. The WHO said in a statement that the end of the polio outbreak in the Philippines is the “result of comprehensive outbreak response actions including intensified immunization and surveillance activities in affected areas of the country.”
The WHO and UNICEF commend the department’s enhanced training and health workers’ mobilization in infection prevention and control, and supplying them with PPEs (personal protective equipment) in order for them to vaccinate children without risking COVID-19 transmission.
“This is a major win for public health and is an excellent example of what collective efforts can attain, even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,” WHO Representative to the Philippines Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe said.
“The closure of the polio outbreak is a direct result of strong political will and government leadership, the mobilization and engagement of resources and communities, the courage and commitment of healthcare and front-line workers, and the combined, coordinated efforts of the local governments and partners.
“We look forward for these efforts to be sustained for a strong and resilient immunization system, utilizing the investments made for polio outbreak response and COVID-19 vaccination to ensure all children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases as the Philippines moves towards achieving universal health care,” he added.
Meanwhile, UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov said the success of the polio immunization in the Philippines is “proof that when we come together for children, great things happen.”
“UNICEF celebrates all the vaccine champions and partners who made this possible. We must keep the momentum and accelerate routine immunization and safeguard essential child health services while rolling out COVID-19 vaccines for priority groups,” she said.
The DOH declared a polio outbreak in the country on Sept. 19, 2019 after 19 years of being polio-free. – jlo
