By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental health board recently passed a resolution urging local government units in the province to help in the immunization drive against measles.

Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) head, Dr. Ernell Tumimban, said, as of this year, there are currently two measles-related fatalities in the province.

He said the Department of Health (DOH) is currently facing a “huge problem” with regard to controlling the spread of measles, especially as the number of deaths nationwide has now reached 70 with over 4,300 cases recorded.

As of this year, PHO has already recorded a total of 130 cases, or an increase of 3,333 percent as compared to the three recorded during the same period last year.

The PHO head blamed the reduced number of vaccinations on the Dengvaxia scare.

Tumimbang said they will tap various government agencies, such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Department of Education, and Barangay Health Workers, to conduct a massive measles immunization drive across the province./DGB, WDJ