BASILAN — Since resumption of in-person classes requires Covid-19 vaccination, more kids in the island provinces of Basilan and Sulu received their jabs during the Bangsamoro region’s ongoing Special Vaccination Days (SVD).
The SVD aims to increase the low vaccination rate in the region and meet the 70-percent herd immunity.
In Barangay Tuyang in Sulu, Chairwoman Norada Unga provided free foods to the kids as a part of the local government unit’s (LGU) strategy in encouraging more vaccine-qualified kids to get vaccinated.
“We provided sufficient free food for kids such as biscuits, soft drinks, and balloons as a kind of token. Our goal is to get more kids like our indigenous kids (the Sama and Badjao) to get vaccinated in preparation for the upcoming face-to-face school opening,” Unga said.
Sixth grader Mardina Muttahijin, 12, said in vernacular: “I miss the face-to-face classes, and because it is required for us to get vaccinated before going back to school, I am here for my vaccination.”
Teams from the MOH regional office in Cotabato City were deployed to the two island provinces to monitor the SVD that is being held from May 11-13.
The team for Sulu is led by MOH Director Dr. Ahmad Fawadz Israel, assisted by Dra. Nehama Nemertina Singki of Sulu Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), while the team for Basilan is led by MOH Assistant Secretary Secretary Dr. Abdulhalik Kasim.
“Mayroon tayong na identify at target na medyo mababa at kulang yung mga number ng tao na nabakunahan. Ito yung gusto natin mabigyan ng pansin, para tumaas ang resulta ng special vaccination,” Kasim said.
The SVD for Tawi-Tawi island will be held on May 18-20, while for the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur will be on May 16-20. (Kasan M. Usop, Jr./Myrna S. Tepadan/BIO)
