GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) – The Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) in Soccsksargen has strengthened its coalition partnership with various sectors to achieve the national target of a 95% immunization rate for children ages 0–5 years old.
During the first quarterly meeting of the Regional Immunization Coalition on January 8-9 at the Greenleaf Hotel, General Santos City, Dr. Aristides Concepcion Tan, the DOH-CHD Regional Director in Soccsksargen, highlighted the significant progress in immunization coverage across local government units (LGUs) in the region.
“Initially, when we intensified our coalition in the early parts until November of last year, the (immunization) coverage was still low. Compared at the end of the year, there is a marked increase in terms of coverage in the different local government units. I’m very optimistic that we can achieve a higher percentage as we work together,” he noted.
Tan emphasized the inclusivity of the coalition’s membership, which consists of national government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The coalition also includes non-governmental organizations like the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines and the societies of midwives, nurses, and doctors.
Tan expressed the coalition’s intent to engage financial partners who can provide additional resources for their campaigns.
Dr. Carryll Lynne G. Nisnisan, a pediatrician from Soccsksargen General Hospital who attended the meeting, underscored the significance of immunization, stating that vaccines are vital in preventing numerous diseases and are freely accessible through government health units.
“It’s very important for us frontliners to encourage more parents to ensure 100% vaccination coverage. While there has been progress in General Santos, there are still areas where vaccination rates are less than 50%, and this disparity is alarming. This coalition is an eye-opener for us to improve data collection and encourage more collaboration between the private and public sectors,” she said.
Nisnisan also pointed out the financial challenges of accessing vaccines in private healthcare facilities, emphasizing the availability of free immunization services at Rural Health Units (RHUs).
“I am committed to promoting vaccination in both my private and government practice, but parents should be encouraged to avail free vaccinations from RHUs to achieve a fully immunized population,” she added.
Nisnisan shared that the coalition acknowledged the challenges and identified gaps in immunization coverage, particularly in areas like South Cotabato, where rates are as low as 62%.
For her, the meeting provided a platform to address these issues, strategize solutions, and leverage partnerships to increase vaccination rates and protect children in Soccsksargen from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Nisnisan also said that the meeting aimed to address pressing issues, enhance strategies, and build on the gains made in 2024 to increase the immunization coverage for children in the region.
With a unified approach and the active involvement of diverse sectors, Tan said that DOH remains committed to achieving its goal of protecting children in Soccsksargen from vaccine-preventable diseases in 2025.
“The purpose of the Regional Coalition on Immunization is really to harness the potentials of the different sectors of the society, to help DOH in trying to achieve a higher coverage in terms of immunizing our children,” he expressed. (HJPF – PIA SarGen)
