Iloilo activates monkeypox response protocols

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. on Wednesday launched the province’s efforts to stop the global monkeypox outbreak to hit our shores, a day after it was confirmed that the 4th case was of a resident here.

Executive Order No. 374 issued by Defensor on Wednesday will implement the following strategies:

–          Strict observance of the “3M” Strategy (Mag-maskara or wearing masks, Mag-distancia or physical distancing, kag Manghinaw or washing of hands) and other Minimum Public Health Standards for Monkeypox;

–          Maintenance of strict quarantine procedures and disease control and prevention measures in the ports of the Province by the Provincial Quarantine Team;

–          Intensified and timely barangay surveillance, screening, management and infection control by the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) of Monkeypox contacts, suspect, probable and confirmed cases;

–          Fast and efficient contact tracing, and the creation of the Provincial Contact Tracing Team for Monkeypox;

–          Strategic and extensive Monkeypox testing, and creation of the Provincial Testing Team;

–          Establishment of Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs) at the Level of the Province, City and Municipalities, and Barangays for Monkeypox suspect, probable and confirmed cases;

–          Readiness of the Iloilo Provincial Hospital (IPH) and all District Hospitals to cater to Monkeypox patients; and

–          Implementation of Project Program for Resilience of Ilonggos in Mind and Emotion (PRIME) as frontline strategy for social healing and economic recovery towards reintegration.

The EO is anchored on the Prevention-Detection-Integration-Treatment-Reintegration (PDITR) strategy, which is also the strategy being implemented in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The Department of Health (DOH) Western Visayas Center for Health Development on Tuesday confirmed that the 4^th monkeypox case confirmed last week was from Iloilo province and had been isolating at a hospital.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday said that the 25-year-old male had 14 identified close contacts, 6 of whom are considered as of ‘moderate risk’ exposure, and 1 as a ‘continuing contact’.

She reiterated this during her visit to the provincial capitol on Wednesday, and was unable to provide new developments.

The governor also said that they will conduct a simulation exercise with the DOH and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) at the Iloilo International Airport within the next week, in anticipation of the reopening of flights between Iloilo and Hong Kong and Singapore.

Meanwhile, Vergeire lauded the Iloilo provincial government’s efforts to intensify its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination campaign, calling it a ‘model’ to the rest of the country.

Vergeire graced the official launch of ‘Bakas para sa Pinas Lakas’, the provincial government’s signature campaign which further intensifies the DOH’s Pinas Lakas COVID booster vaccination campaign.

During the launch program, Vergeire said that such a program integrating a multi-sectoral approach to COVID vaccination is something to be emulated by the rest of the country.

“We can see how we can have a successful implementation of a COVID-19 response program in these past 2 years. The whole [health] sector cannot do this alone. We need other sectors to help us, and that is what [Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.] is doing, encouraging other sectors to include COVID-19 vaccination,” said Vergeire.

“This is a very excellent example that can be modelled and adapted by other local governments. Congratulations, and I hope you could be proud, because the leadership of local officials is leading the way to protect people here in your place,” she added.

The ‘Bakas para sa Pinas Lakas’ program is a three-pronged approach to further boost COVID vaccination in the province, under Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.’s Executive Order No. 364, including:

-‘Bugas para sa PinasLakas’, which is to provide rice packs as a vaccination coverage enhancement measure for targeted populations in calamity-affected areas;

-‘Bakuna Ulayhon sa Programa’, which encourages convergence partners to blend vaccine administration with programs and projects involving people circulation; and

-‘Bakuna Antes Sinadya’, which encourages private sector partners to blend vaccine administration with establishments, industries, and livelihood sectors, as well as gatherings and activities.

For the first approach, the provincial government will utilize 16,000 rice packs from 1,600 sacks from the Department of Agriculture, prioritizing the 92,759 families affected by Typhoon Odette last year.

This is also an extension of the province’s NutriVac campaign last July, which integrated the celebration of the National Nutrition Month with the continuing COVID vaccination campaign.

This campaign is based on the Pinas Lakas campaign, a directive by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to increase COVID booster shots and primary series vaccinations among school-aged children and senior citizens within his first 100 days.

Vergeire said the target for the first booster shots is 49 million eligible Filipinos, and the DOH is looking to vaccinate at least half of this number to keep severe and critical COVID cases at a low.