Dr Julie Hall, WHO Representative, Philippines, congratulates a child just vaccinated against measles, as part of the ‘Goodbye measles’ campaign, launched by the Department of Health of the Philippines on 21 January 2014.
WHO/Chantal Claravall
WHO is procuring 1 million doses of measles and rubella (MR) vaccine, to supplement current national stocks and is also procuring logistics materials (2.4 million auto-destruct syringes, 270,000 mixing syringes and 30,000 safety boxes) for measles vaccination activities in the Philippines.
The logistics materials will be used as part of the ‘Goodbye TIGDAS’ (Goodbye measles) campaign, launched on 21 January 2014 by Dr Enrique T. Ona, Secretary of the Philippine Department of Health. The campaign will target over 2 million children aged 6 months up to 3 years in Metro Manila and seven provinces. It is due to begin on 23 January, and run until 3 February 2014.
A rising number of measles cases in Manila and some provinces have been reported in recent weeks in the Philippines. Dr Ona urged parents to take their children to be vaccinated and called on local governments across the country to “beef up” routine child immunization in the country.
“Past experience suggests that we are on the brink of a large measles outbreak in Metro Manila and other provinces if we don’t take action now. WHO fully supports the Department of Health in this ‘Goodbye measles’ campaign” says Dr Julie Hall, WHO Representative, Philippines.
Additional WHO support for measles activities
In addition to procuring measles and rubella vaccine and logistics materials, WHO is providing technical support on measles surveillance to the Department of Health and procuring blood testing kits and laboratory supplies needed to confirm measles cases. WHO is also procuring medical supplies for measles case management (including vitamin A and antibiotics).
The organization will support monitoring activities for the campaign announced today, working with partners on rapid coverage assessments. These are quick surveys of households and children that provide health authorities with a quick impression of how complete the vaccination campaign is.
More broadly, WHO provides expert technical assistance – through the WHO Philippines Country Office, the Western Pacific Regional Office and WHO Headquarters, and has also coordinated assistance by international partners such as the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC).