By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Eight local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental have already surpassed targets for the Department of Health’s (DOH) “Chikiting Ligtas” supplemental immunization program.

Dr. Girlie Pinonggan of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) said 197,753 children, or 87.94 percent, have already been vaccinated against measles and rubella in the province.

However, only 15,708 remain unvaccinated.

Data from the PHO also showed Murcia town topped the list with a 105.63 percent accomplishment, followed by Himamaylan City (105.16 percent) and Silay City (101.93 percent).

Also on the list are the towns of Candoni (95.57 percent), La Castellana (95.88 percent) and Moises Padilla (95.52 percent); and the cities of Kabankalan (97.42 percent) and Talisay (99.21 percent).

Earlier, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson was elated over the province’s performance in the program.

He lauded provincial health workers for their hard work in convincing parents to have their kids vaccinated against measles, rubella and polio./DGB, WDJ