On 19 September 2019, the Philippine Department of Health declared a poliovirus outbreak after nearly two decades from the last polio case in the country.
Over the past eleven months, the national polio outbreak response team, comprising the Department of Health, partner organizations, international polio experts and many volunteers, has worked tirelessly and in very challenging situations to respond to the outbreak.
To date, the frontline health workers have implemented thirteen mass immunization polio campaigns in the National Capital Region, provinces in Central and Southern Luzon and the entire Mindanao, reaching over 7 million children and administering over 20 million doses of polio vaccines. We have put strong efforts in place to strengthen the health system and improve health staff capacity, leading towards preparedness and response for polio and other emerging diseases. As a result, the polio campaign rounds early in 2020 resulted in at least 95% coverage among the eligible children.
A vaccination team crosses a bamboo bridge in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Mindanao. Photo: WHO
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic did not deter the country in addressing the urgent public health needs. Frontline workers in Central and Southern Luzon and in Mindanao took to the streets in July 2020 to fill the immunity gaps that have widened in the past four months because of the interruption of the polio outbreak response and routine immunization services.
The rainy season brought flooding in some areas in Central Luzon – an additional challenge for vaccination teams in reaching every child for polio drops. Photo: WHO/B Beshir
The vaccinators strived to reach and provide polio drops to every child under five years old. The vaccination teams have been trained on COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures and equipped to support the community by answering their concerns related to the pandemic.
A vaccination team in Aurora province, Central Luzon answers a mother’s concern on COVID-19. In vaccinating children with polio drops, health workers observe health checks, hand hygiene, physical distancing and proper use of personal protective equipment. Photo: WHO/J Orbina
As the polio campaigns continue in the country, the spirit of "Bayanihan" (A Filipino word used to refer to a spirit of communal unity and cooperation) remains alive and determined to stop polio and protect Filipino children and other children regionally and globally.