Learners in Appas, Tabuk City benefit from DOH’s free vaccination program

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Elementary pupils in Appas, Tabuk City, Kalinga recently benefited from “Bakuna Eskwela”, a free vaccination program of the Department of Health – Cordillera which aims to protect learners from preventable diseases.

From January 1 - September 14, 2024, DOH recorded 3,356 cases of measles and rubella with 11 deaths, 215 cases of diphtheria with 25 deaths, and 81 cases of neonatal tetanus with 44 deaths.

In the meantime, cervical cancer diagnoses 7,897 women nationwide and claims about 4,052 Filipino lives each year.

To lessen the high number of cases and deaths of said diseases, the agency implemented a free vaccination program, and learners from all schools across the country were among the targets.

The free vaccination program in schools or the Bakuna Eskwela, benefited iKalinga children on Wednesday, October 16.

Among them were Grade 1 pupils of Appas Integrated School who received vaccinations against measles, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria, while the Grade 4 female pupils received vaccinations against human papillomavirus and cervical cancer.

Appas Integrated School Teacher III Don Don Gumpad, in an interview with Guru Press Cordillera, expressed gratitude to the DOH for bringing the program into their place, which is a huge aid for them to maintain the health of their kids. 

”Agayaman kami la unay ti daytoy nga vaccination ditoy school mi. Adu nga ubbing mi ti nag-benefit iti daytoy. Dakkel nga tulong kadagitoy ubbing ken kadakami met laeng tapno mapanatili nga nasalun-at da” he added.

The Barangay Local Government Unit of Appas headed by Barangay Captain Bernard Glenn Dao-as, on the other hand, stressed that the program was very beneficial to them since one of the top priorities of the BLGU includes the well-being of its people.

“Agyaman kami ti kastoy nga klase ti activity ta talaga nga priority met laeng ti BLGU iti good health ti bumarangay,” expressed the BLGU through its  Barangay Secretary Brenda Depalog.