Health Secretary Francisco Duque III commended Senator Dick Gordon and the Philippine Red Cross, which Gordon heads, for aiding the Department of Health, especially in responding to the measles outbreak which is currently affecting Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon and the Visayas.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako kay Sen. Gordon – ang laki-laki ng kanyang tulong. Sa totoo lang po, mga isang libong pasyente po ang napangasiwaan, napagaling sa tulong po ng Philippine Red Cross sa atin pong mga ospital – sa San Lazaro, sa Amang Rodriguez Medical Center, sa atin pong iba pong mga pagamutan. Si Sen. Gordon po ay isa sa pinakamalakas na taga-suporta ng ating Department of Health. At siya ang taga-pangulo ng napakahusay at napaka-epektibo na Philippine Red Cross,” Duque said during the kick off of the Philippine Red Cross’ mass vaccination program in Olongapo.
The health chief disclosed that aside from setting up air-conditioned emergency medical units to augment the wards of some overcrowded hospitals, the Philippine Red Cross have also aided the DOH in ensuring that its vaccination program covers more areas in the country.
“At lingid sa kaalaman ninyo, meron na pong mga pitong libo na nabakunahan sa pamamagitan ng mga Philippine Red Cross volunteers. Sa San Lazaro, sa Kalinga, sa Marikina, sa Rizal, sa Cebu City, sa Lapu-lapu City, sa Talisay, sa Baguio ay ang laki na po ng tulong ng Philippine Red Cross para mapalawig ang ating bakunahan at marami pang ibang naitutulong ang Philippine Red Cross. Wag po nating kalimutan Back-to-Bakuna sa Lahat Bakuna. Ito po ay nakakasalba ng buhay,” Duque said.
“7,000 children were given measles vaccine through PRC volunteers.”
For his part, Gordon disclosed that aside from the areas where the PRC has already launched a measles mass vaccination program, they are also set on launching similar program in other regions in Luzon, starting with Bulacan, Pangasinan and Pampanga, as he expressed alarm that in less than two months, the number of measles cases recorded have surpassed more than half of the total number of cases recorded for the whole year last year.
“PRC is set to launch a measles mass vaccination program in other regions in Luzon, starting with Bulacan, Pangasinan and Pampanga.”
