Philippines

Jamila could see them from afar. The hazy figure of PPE-clad nurses toting vaccine carriers coming over the hill meant only one thing for the first-time mother—her baby Jonaila was going to get vaccinated. Unlike most towns in the Philippines where patients go to the clinics, government nurses in Marantao, Lanao del Sur, go from house to house to…, Rise in zero dose children, Jamila and Jonaila’s case reflects a disturbing increase in the number of unimmunized children, among those born during the COVID pandemic. According to UNICEF Immunization Officer Dr. Amador Catacutan, these children are particularly at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases like polio and measles. “As they would be under 2 years old, their immune…, 2019 outbreaks, BARMM had already been lagging in vaccination rates even prior to the pandemic. The situation came to a head in 2019, when the province of Lanao Del Sur saw outbreaks of both polio and measles—two severe yet easily preventable diseases covered under the seven vaccines of the routine National Immunization Program for children. Dr. Alinader Minalang…, Post-outbreak, Dr. Catacutan credits the success of the 2019 outbreak response to a true “multi-sectoral effort”—a campaign that needs to be sustained to combat the rise in zero dose children. “Most people think this is only an issue for the health sector, but this isn’t true.” “Sometimes we need the Department of Social Welfare and Development to give financial…

The Philippines ranks fifth globally among countries with the highest number of unvaccinated children, with one million children across the country who have not received a single childhood vaccine . Within the country, 60% of ‘zero-dose’ children live in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) . One of those ‘zero-dose’ babies…, A well-connected response, Village health workers, who bring essential services to families like Jonaila’s, are part of a truly multisectoral team responding to the need. This involves the central coordination and strategy role of the provincial health team; religious leaders; police trucks for transporting vaccines over rocky and other challenging terrain; and non-…, Alim Abdulrahman Poli is the imam at Mutilan Mosque in Marawi City. In his sermons he does what he can to dispel any doubts about vaccinations. “We tell our congregation to take care of their health, that vaccines are not haram, it’s for the protection of children. We are obliged to take care of children because they are the future of our…, UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723166/Martin San Diego/Highway Child Alim Abdulrahman Poli, 43, a religious leader, inside a mosque. UNIPH-2022-WPD-19, UNICEF worked with imams during the 2019 measles and polio outbreaks, to share sermons in line with the Quran’s teachings. “Qadar means fate or destiny in Islam,” says Poli. “But you first must do your part, in this case, that means getting vaccinated. It’s stated in the Quran that in every concern, you ask the expert in that field. So, if it’s…, UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723147/Martin San Diego/Highway Child Dr. Princess Sacar, head of the Lanao Del Sur Provincial Health Office. UNIPH-2022-WPD-20, Dr. Princess Sacar is head of the Provincial Health Office, she treated children for measles in Manila, during the 2019 outbreak. “There were so many patients,” she says. “I felt overwhelmed and it was so frustrating. Measles is highly contagious and yet easily preventable.”, UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723162/Martin San Diego/Highway Child Dr. Amador Catacutan, UNICEF’s immunization officer, checks a vaccine freezer UNIPH-2022-WPD-21, Dr. Amador Catacutan, UNICEF’s immunization officer, checks the vaccine stocks at the rural health center. “UNICEF initiated the polio outbreak response. Here in Mindanao, there were five rounds of catch-up campaigns, as it was where the first case was identified. Outreach teams were vital, visiting homes and also markets with a target of…, UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723239/Martin San Diego/Highway Child The medicines warehouse and cold-chain vaccine storage facility in Marawi City. UNIPH-2022-WPD-22, The medicines warehouse and cold-chain vaccine storage facility in Marawi City. UNICEF distributed solar-powered refrigerators to areas that struggle with power outages, and continues to forecast, procure and disseminate vaccines for the region., UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723175/Martin San Diego/Highway Child Dr. Alinader Minalang, Provincial Health Officer for the province of Lanao Del Sur, in the medicine warehouse and cold chain storage facility. UNIPH-2022-WPD-23, Dr. Aliander Minalang is the provincial health manager in charge of implementation and monitoring and evaluation of the vaccination program. The Ministry of Health develops the immunization plan and it is adapted at local level. “At the time of the 2019 outbreaks the cold chain facility was not ideal. Now we have solar refrigerators, so vaccines…, UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723177/Martin San Diego/Highway Child Evelyn Saro, midwife and manager of the Marantao Rural Health Center. UNIPH-2022-WPD-24, “Vaccines are important, antibodies are your body’s soldiers, your defense against any illness that may come,” says Evelyn Saro, midwife and manager of the Marantao Rural Health Center., UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723255/Martin San Diego/Highway Child Alim Abdulrahman Poli, 43, a religious leader, at Mutilan Mosque. Alim Abdulrahman Poli, 43, a religious leader, inside a mosque. Dr. Princess Sacar, head of the Lanao Del Sur Provincial Health Office. Dr. Amador Catacutan, UNICEF’s immunization officer, checks a vaccine freezer The…, Nasima brings her 7-month-old son, Ziyad, for a check-up and routine immunization. She comforts and distracts Ziyad as the nurse administers the vaccination., UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723235/Martin San Diego/Highway Child Junaira and her 4-month-old daughter, Riswanah UNIPH-2022-WPD-27, Junaira’s 4-month-old daughter, Riswanah, was feeling poorly today. She got checked over and has postponed her Pentavalent and Polio vaccines until next week when she is expected to be feeling better., UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723245 Martin San Diego/Highway Child Abdulhakum brings her 9-month-old baby Zainuddin to the Marantao Rural Health Unit for routine vaccination and check-up. UNIPH-2022-WPD-28, 9-month-old baby Zainuddin receives two vaccines, protecting against 8 diseases, including Polio, Diptheria, Whooping Cough and Tetanus., UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723240/Martin San Diego/Highway Child 9-month-old baby Zainuddin's father looks on while he is at the rural health unit with his mother Abdulhakum UNIPH-2022-WPD-29, Zainuddin’s father entertains him while the baby sits with his mother, Abdulhakum, to receive advice and services from the health team., UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723242/Martin San Diego/Highway Child Anisa carrying her 1-month-old baby Asya UNIPH-2022-WPD-30, 1-month-old Asya is up-to-date with her vaccinations. At just a few weeks old, mother Anisa has brought her for a weekly, newborn check-up., UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723244/Martin San Diego/Highway Child Nasima brings her 7-month-old baby, Ziyad, to the Marantao Rural Health Unit for routine checkup and immunization session. Junaira and her 4-month-old daughter, Riswanah Abdulhakum brings her 9-month-old baby Zainuddin to the Marantao Rural Health Unit for routine vaccination and check-…

Norsainah and Baniamen have four children. Alnur, 4, was hospitalized with measles when he was 10 months old. “We thought we were going to lose him,” says his mother, Norsainah. Babies born in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are more at risk from vaccine-preventable diseases in comparison to children in other parts of the…, Family portrait: Mother, Norsainah, and father, Baniamen, with their children Sudais, 2, Saimen, 7, and Saiben, 6, (from left to right), and Alnur, 4, at the front on his bike. Since Alnur was hospitalized with measles, all of the children have kept up-to-date with the recommended vaccination schedule., UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723213/Martin San Diego/Highway Child A street scene in Marawi City, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao UNIPH-2022-WPD-7, Much of ‘Ground-Zero’ in Marawi City is yet to be rebuilt., UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723288/Martin San Diego/Highway Child Baniamen fetches three of his children from school using his tricycle, which he also uses for work. UNIPH-2022-WPD-8, Baniamen takes his kids to school on the tricycle he uses for work. Alnur, 4, jumps on the back. It was difficult for the father to work during the crises. There were no customers during the siege and he couldn’t go out to work when Alnur was unwell., UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723148/Martin San Diego/Highway Child Norsainah at home with two of her sons, Saimen, 7, and Saiben, 6. UNIPH-2022-WPD-9, Norsainah preparing a meal at home, pictured with sons, Saimen, 7, (left) and Saiben, 6, (center)., UNICEF and U.S. CDC/UN0723210/Martin San Diego/Highway Child Parents Norsainah and Baniamen with their children A street scene in Marawi City, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Baniamen fetches three of his children from school using his tricycle, which he also uses for work. Norsainah at home with two of her sons, Saimen, 7, and…

MANILA, 21 October 2022 – UNICEF Philippines, on the occasion of World Polio Day, revealed that the Philippines has 1 million children who have not received a single dose of childhood vaccine 1 . In 2021, Philippines was the top 5 contributor to the 18 million zero-dose children globally and the top 7 contributor with the most children unprotected…

When her son JM first learned how to walk, Judith Waskin, 43, could hardly keep up with her baby. As JM learned to balance his steps, his feet quickly outpaced hers. Unlike other parents, Judith cannot playfully chase after her baby. To be a mother is challenging. To be a mother and a polio survivor like Judith, even more so. Judith caught polio…

24 October 2021, Manila – On World Polio Day, the Department of Health, the World Health Organization UNICEF and Rotary International urge all parents to vaccinate their children against preventable diseases, especially polio. In June 2021, the Philippines announced the closure of the polio outbreak in the country following 18 months of outbreak…

This bulletin details critical support that UNICEF provided during the first half of 2021 around the following: COVID-19 vaccine procurement Ending the polio outbreak in the country Evidence-based planning for school reopening amid COVID-19 Maximizing digital platforms to sustain child protection services for those constrained by COVID-19-related…

11 June 2021 — WHO and UNICEF Philippines on behalf of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) commend the Department of Health (DOH), government agencies, partners and civil society efforts that have ended the polio outbreak in the Philippines. The DOH officially concluded the polio outbreak response on 3 June 2021. The decision came as…

MANILA, 24 October 2020 – In commemoration of World Polio Day today, UNICEF highlights the importance of vaccination to fulfill every child’s fundamental right to health. As the Philippines faces COVID-19 and another nationwide round of measles and polio campaign begins on October 26, UNICEF calls on all sectors of the society to work together to…

For barangay health worker Elvie Mendoza, 46, bringing health services to her community is not just a task. When so much is riding on her commitment to reach Aeta families in her barangay (village), she can’t help but be proud of how they’ve been thriving in the last few years. Elvie is an Aeta, an indigenous group that inhabited the Province of…

20 July 2020 – The Department of Health (DOH), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), is resuming its Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio campaign to combat the poliovirus outbreak in the Philippines. The polio immunization campaign was shortly put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The…

She goes around Manila’s parks at night to check on street children who may have missed their oral polio vaccine. In the morning, she sits on sidewalks giving polio vaccines to street dwellers’ children lying on cardboard mats. Carmen Macalalad, Nurse Supervisor of District 5 in the City of Manila, has been regularly sleeping on a thin mattress in…