DoH receives vaccine refs from USAID

The Department of Health (DoH) received 175 units of refrigerators for vaccines from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

DoH Secretary Enrique Ona said that some of the units will be sent to Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in order to replace some of the equipment that were damaged by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

Ondoy and Pepeng hit the country in October 2009.

Ona also said that the he hopes the project would improve the immunization coverage in the ARMM region as well as the rest of the country since the units will help prolong the shelf life of the vaccines and other medications. Vaccines and other medication require lower temperature in order for them to work effectively and last longer.

Necessary training will also be given for the proper use and maintenance of the units.

Year to date, 14 have died and more than five thousand have been suspected of having measles in the country with a higher concentration in Metro Manila and Central Luzon.

Ann Hirschey of USAID said on the other hand that the donation aims to help the country recover its medical facilities. — DBL