Peacekeepers serve as polio vaccinators in Maguindanao

PARANG, Maguindanao  --- Police officers and peacekeepers have doubled as  “bakunadors” (vaccinators) as they participated in the Department of Health (DOH) Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio at a police checkpoint in Barangay Pinantao here.

While performing their duties as peacekeepers, police personnel led by Lt. Col. Edgar Putiz, chief of police’s Regional Health Service-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RHS-BARMM), administered vaccination to children on board passing vehicles with their parents to ensure they are protected from poliovirus.

“We have been doing our part as vaccinators since January 20, Putiz said.

The unit's lady police officers also administered oral polio vaccination to children while conducting visual inspections on motor vehicles passing by Barangay Pinantao.

Lt. Darren Glenn Reyes, nurse officer, and Maj. Michelle Deiparine, chief nurse, performed vaccination on children 59 months old and below onboard all vehicles traveling from the towns of Barira, Buldon and Matanog in Maguindanao and even those from Lanao del Sur passing by Barangay Pinantao.

Brig. Gen. Marni Marcos, regional director of Police Regional Office-BARMM has directed all police personnel across the region to actively participate in the campaign against poliovirus.

His directive includes the actual dropping of vaccines to children and providing security to health providers going to remote areas of the region.

Lt. Col. Guer Law Andolana, OIC Medical Dispensary of the police’s RHS-BARMM, earlier coordinated with the Maguindanao Health Office and the Rural Health Unit of Parang, Maguindanao for police active participation in ensuring children are free from poliovirus.

“Hindi na kinakatakutan ang mga police ngayon, health workers na din sila (We no longer fear law enforcers now because like this one they also serve as health workers),” said Ali Kaka, a tricycle driver whose children among his passengers were given doses of oral polio vaccines.

Dr. Elizabeth Samama, Maguindanao health chief, lauded the police participation in the campaign as it provided additional manpower to about 600 “bakunadors” from the Provincial Health Office.

Nine children in Maguindanao have been confirmed to have polio. Two were discovered late last year while seven only this month. (EDWIN FERNANDEZ, PNA - COTABATO, MINDANAO EXPOSE')