A leader of the House of Representatives on Monday pushed for a declaration of a localized state of health emergency amid a growing public health threat of polio, especially in poverty-stricken and polio-hit areas of Mindanao.
In a news statement, House Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Bernadette Herrera also called for a more aggressive response to the contagious viral illness after Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III revealed that there are two more suspected cases of polio in Mindanao.
This is in addition to the three new confirmed polio cases and the first confirmed case in Datu Piang, Maguindanao.
“There are now at least four children with polio in Mindanao making us inclined to believe that the current measures may not be enough,” Herrera said.
“Given the seriousness of the growing polio threat to public health, more aggressive and pro-active steps, including a possible ‘localized state of health emergency’ may be in order, which the DOH secretary has the power to do under our administrative and public health laws,” she added.
The DOH is scheduled to conduct a polio vaccination campaign from Nov. 25 to Dec. 7 in Mindanao, as well as in Metro Manila.
DOH aims to vaccinate about 3 million children five years old and below in the second round of the Mindanao-wide massive polio vaccination.
Image credits: AP/Bullit Marquez, Congress.gov.ph