THE Department of Health (DOH) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are set to conduct a house-to-house measles immunization drive in a bit meet their target of 95 percent coverage.
The immunization drive will using three modes, including “house-to-house” visit.
“House-to-house vaccination utilizes the `suyod’ strategy, wherein every dwelling/structure that is used or lived in by a family or small group of people is visited,” the DOH and the BARMM-MOH said in a joint memorandum.
“This strategy is best utilized in areas with wider distance between households and where no strategic temporary vaccination post is available,” they added.
Going house to house will also provide government the opportunity to engage families and convince them of the benefits of getting vaccinated, the memo said.
Aside from house-to-house, the DOH and the BARMM-MOH said measles vaccination will also be available in fixed posts or health facilities which shall be open daily for the entire duration of the immunization drive.
There will also be temporary posts, which are facilities that can be used as non-permanent immunization centers, such as barangay facilities, community centers, basketball courts, schools, and religious facilities.
“The local Public Health Emergency Operations Centers shall determine the appropriate strategy for their area as to the establishment of fixed vaccination posts in rural/city health unit facilities, district hospitals; and temporary fixed posts, such as prop-up tents, barangay halls, barangay basketball courts, etc.,” said the DOH and the BARMM-MOH.
Last week, the DOH and the BARMM-MOH announced its conduct of a mass measles immunization drive from April 1 to 12 amid the alarming surge in measles cases in the Bangsamoro region.
From September 10, 2023 to March 16, 2024, BARMM has recorded 1,481 measles cases with Lanao del Sur having the most cases with 1,056 (71%).
Some 1.3 million children in BARMM aged 6 months to 10 years are being targeted for the vaccination campaign.
The DOH and the BARMM-MOH said they are targeting to vaccinate at least 95 percent of the targeted population.
