Sulu ramps up Covid-19 vaccination

THE INTEGRATED Provincial Health Office here said it would ramp up Covid-19 vaccination in different areas and urged locals to take advantage of the free inoculation to protect them from the deadly respiratory disease.

Dr. Farah Omar, chief of the Sulu Integrated Provincial Health Office,  ICRC Head of Sub-Structure Arshid Khan, and Michael Angelo Guiroy, ICRC Health Field Officer during the donation of medical items and tricycles. 

But the inclement weather conditions, armed conflicts, and unreliable electric supply hamper the delivery of basic health services.  As a result, only about 28.88% of the province’s target population have been vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the Ministry of Health. 

Controlling the spread of the virus requires that everyone is included in vaccination efforts. Governor Sakur Tan has repeatedly called on residents to get vaccinated and even ordered a massive information drive to allay fears and counter false news about the medicine.

Dr. Farah Omar, chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office, said they are committed to ramp up the vaccination campaign in the province’s geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

Dr. Farah Omar, chief of the Sulu Integrated Provincial Health Office, and Arshid Amin Khan, head of ICRC Zamboanga Sub-Structure, sign a memorandum of agreement in connection with the ICRC’s Covid-19 vaccination support in Zamboanga City.

She said the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will also support health authorities in the setting up of mobile vaccination sites in areas of low vaccine coverage, including detention facilities.

ICRC donated syringes, personal protective equipment, health communication materials, electronic equipment, rickshaw vehicles, and resources for mobile teams that will go to municipalities located on various islands. All these are expected to help ramp up the vaccination in Sulu. 

“I am happy to see this MOU push through today.  The ICRC handed over significant material support to the IPHO Sulu for its Covid-19 vaccination efforts. This support will enhance the capacity of IPHO Sulu to vaccinate more people, especially those living in far-flung areas,” said Arshid Amin Khan, head of the ICRC Sub-Delegation in Zamboanga.

Omar thanked the ICRC for the support and donations. “We are very thankful for this partnership with ICRC, an organization that protects victims of armed conflicts and assists areas affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The ICRC has been a reliable partner of IPHO Sulu and the MoU we signed today strengthens our partnership.” 

The ICRC turned over 19 units of tricycles and 21 units of laptops to the IPHO Sulu. It also supports the Philippine Red Cross in the mobilization of vaccination teams and a government mobile vaccination bus in Mindanao, including places of detention. 

PRC chapters in at least 11 cities and provinces in Mindanao have been augmenting their local government with mobile vaccination teams and support staff to reach more communities. Three fixed-site vaccination centers in the cities of Iligan, Zamboanga and Davao have been supported as well.   

The ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance, regardless of their political affiliation. (Mindanao Examiner)