DAVAO CITY— As part of its intensive campaign to increase vaccination coverage in the region, particularly in the education sector, the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) hailed on Dec. 7 all winning schools for the “Get Vaxxed to Win” campaign in the region.
Tambak Primary School (Maguindanao II) bested all other schools under the non-city category while Maloong Legion Elementary School (Lamitan City) topped the city category.
The contest also recognized four other schools —South Park Elementary School (Lanao del Sur I), Brawarbatew Elementary School (Maguindanao I), Jolo National High School (Sulu), and Mahad Shuhada Al-Islamiya, Inc— as they also reached 85% COVID-19 vaccination coverage for both learners and school personnel.
The awarding ceremony also encompasses the recently concluded first-ever BARMM education summit which took place at the SMX Convention Center, Lanang in Davao City from December 5-6, 2022.
Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal, who humored the audience by responding “tama yung pagbanggit mo sa akin father ha, huwag lang grandfather” when the Master of Ceremony addressed him as the “Father of Education”, described the awarding ceremony “as an important milestone for MBHTE”.
“I want to emphasize that the MBHTE fully supports the BARMM Government’s initiative to intensify our vaccination program and protect ourselves from COVID-19,” said Iqbal, citing coronavirus as a severe threat.
Iqbal recognized that with the return of the face-to-face learning, vulnerable and immunocompromised individuals and children in school and at home must be protected, emphasizing that a “rise in numbers of infected people will create an unsafe environment for students, teachers, and non-teaching staff”.
“Get Vaxxed to Win” contest was opened to all public, and registered private schools, including accredited Madaris institutions in the region from October 24 to 18 November this year. Qualifiers must have at least 85% COVID-19 vaccination coverage for both learners and school personnel.
Health Deputy Minister Dr. Zul Qaneyn Abas, who graced the event on behalf of Minister Dr. Rizaldy Piang, cited MBHTE as their important ally during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We at the MOH (Ministry of Health) see MBHTE as one of its much needed partners in the fight against Covid, thus reciprocity is the order of the day,” Abas said.
Aside from the winners of “Get Vaxxed to Win” contest, MBHTE also recognized the efforts of various schools who joined in the “Kwentong Bakuna ng Eskwela”. It is a feature-story contest for schools to share the stories behind vaccination numbers by discovering their vaccination experiences.
MBHTE Health and Nutrition Unit Cheif Gizeel Amira Ali said the campaign has significantly contributed to the vaccination coverage in the region.
“As a result of this contest, we can proudly say that we have contributed greatly to the increase in the vaccination coverage for the Bangsamoro region, now at 59% based on the MOH report for November,” Ali said. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
