Sampaloc Elementary School Main hosts Quezon Province’s first post-COVID HPV immunization drive

Sampaloc Elementary School Main in Quezon became the site of the province’s first face-to-face, school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization drive since the COVID pandemic. The event, which emphasized the importance of early protection against the virus, was participated in by over 200 students and their parents.

Dubbed “Sa Aking Paglaki, Walang HPV,” the program marked the return of the province-wide initiative to protect schoolchildren from vaccine-preventable diseases such as cervical cancer and supports the national launch of the school-based immunization (SBI) program of the government. It also focused on vaccinating school-aged children aged 9 to 14, the target group most vulnerable to HPV infection.

Spearheaded by the local government units (LGUs) of Quezon in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DepEd), the initiative seeks to protect children against HPV and prevent cervical cancer through a comprehensive vaccination campaign.

Among those invited to the event were Sampaloc Mayor Noel Angelo T. Devanadera; Vice Mayor Teresita Villeno; Representative Mark Enverga (represented by Melecio Ladines) of the First Congressional District of Quezon; Dr. Mark Nicolas Santos, Family Health Cluster Head of DOH Region IV-A; Lorelie G. Salonga, Provincial Health Officer 1 of Quezon Province; Dr. Rommel C. Bautista (CESO V), DepEd SDO of Quezon Province; Liliosa B. Diasanta, DepEd Sampaloc District Supervisor; and Ms. Melanie Eduvije, President of Sampaloc PTA. 

HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer, which ranks as the second most frequent cancer among Filipino women. It particularly affects those between the ages of 15 and 44. With an estimated 37.8 million women at risk of the disease, early prevention remains essential to reduce mortality rates.

Sampaloc Mayor highlights expansion plans

In his keynote speech, Sampaloc Mayor Noel Angelo T. Devanadera shared that the program had received overwhelming support from key local leaders, including Quezon Province Governor Angelina D.L. Tan, MD, and Congressman Mark Enverga as well as the private sector. 

“Ikwento ko lang kung paano nagsimula ang programang ito kasi sa totoo lang, hindi ko po talaga alam kung ano ang HPV. Pero dahil maraming nagre-request na mga kababaihan, lalo na yung mga nanay, so, nagpunta kami kay Governor Tan (dahil doctor siya) at tinanong namin kung ano pwede naming maging programa para sa HPV. Ito ang sabi niya: ‘Medyo mahal ang request ninyo ha? Why don’t we start with something else, like say an immunization program for school children, and let’s see what will happen?’”

“So, ganun na nga nangyari – lahat nang kinausap natin nag-agree at pumasok nga si MSD na tumulong na mag-coordinate at magbuo ng programang ito. At ngayon nga ay naririto po tayo – kukumpletuhin na natin ang pagbabakuna para sa mga bata kahit na umuulan pa. Ang lahat nang ito’y dahil kay Gobernor Tan kasi kung wala siya, wala din ang program na ito kaya palakpakan po natin siya. Ginagawa din natin ito para makatulong tayo sa layunin ng World Health Organization.”

Mayor Devanadera also announced plans to expand the program’s reach. “Hopefully, magtuluy-tuloy na itong SBI program natin para sa susunod, yung mga nanay naman mabigyan natin ng proteksyon. Kapag naturukan na mga bata, ang isusunod naman po natin ay ang mga magulang nila bilang bahagi ng ating project para sa komunidad,” he added.

For their part, both Governor Tan and Congressman Enverga highlighted the importance of vaccination in safeguarding the health of the province’s next generation. 

“Ngayong araw, upang masimulan ang ating hangarin na maitawid ang ganitong programa sa mga paaralan, inuna na natin ang paglulunsad ng HPV vaccination activity dito sa inyong lugar (Sampaloc Elementary School). Through this initiative, we aim to protect our children from preventable diseases like cervical cancer, ensuring that they can grow up free from its devastating impact,” the governor shared in a pre-recorded speech played during the event.

For his part, Congressman Enverga, in a speech delivered by Melecio Ladines, his representative, stated, “Anumang kaganapan sa inyong lalawigan ay susuportahan ng inyong lingkod. Mahalagang alagaan natin ang mga kababaihan sapagkat sila ang tanging yaman ng ating bayan. Ang mga kabataang babae ay dapat din nating ingatan. Ang gusto natin marinig sa kanila, ‘Ako’y naging malusog at ‘di nagkasakit, dahil nagkaroon, sa bayan ng Sampaloc, ng isang programang tulad ng HPV vaccination na pinalawak para alagaaan ang mga kababaihan.’”

A united effort to prevent cervical cancer

With cervical cancer claiming thousands of lives each year and an estimated 37.8 million Filipino women at risk, the push for HPV vaccination is critical. This latest effort is part of a larger strategy to close the healthcare gap exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted a number of preventive health programs of the government.

Quezon’s multi-sectoral approach involves collaboration between local government units, healthcare providers, and educators. 

Dr. Mark Nicolas Santos, DOH-CALABARAZON Family Cluster Head, also attended the event, emphasizing the role of vaccination in cancer prevention. “May mga immunization program na po ang Department of Health noon pa man, kaya lang, sa kasamaang-palad, dahil din sa limitado ang stocks at budget natin ay natigil ito (lalo na noong pandemic). Sa ngayon, ang meron lang tayo ay mga age-groups na tina-target natin lalo na sa HPV vaccination. Naniniwala po kaming by vaccinating children early, we can reduce the chances of HPV-related cancers later in life,” he further stated.

For her part, Liliosa B. Diasanta, DepEd Sampaloc District Supervisor, said, “Napaka-makasaysayan po ng event na ito dahil ito po’y ang araw ng pagbabalik ng pagbabakuna sa ating probinsiya sa taong ito. Ito din po ang taon na ibinabalik ang school-based immunization. Naniniwala kami sa DepEd na kailangang masiguro ang kalusugan nang ating mga mag-aaral para maging successful sila sa hinaharap. With the resumption this immunization program, we are not only protecting students from preventable diseases but also helping create an environment where they can thrive academically without the threat of illness.”

The return of the SBI program is indeed critical in the wake of recent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and pertussis. Officials emphasized that all immunizations, including HPV, measles-rubella, and tetanus-diphtheria, will resume under the guidance of the DOH and DepEd, following proper dosages and schedules.

Global and local alignment for a healthier future

The “Sa Aking Paglaki, Walang HPV” campaign aligns with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health issue by 2030. 

The WHO aims to vaccinate 90% of girls by age 15, screen 70% of women by age 35 and 45, and ensure 90% of diagnosed women receive appropriate care. With approximately 600,000 new cervical cancer cases globally each year, local efforts like those in Quezon Province are crucial to achieving these targets.

According to Dr. Santos, the turnout at Sampaloc Elementary School Main may already be considered a positive indicator of community engagement. But in spite of its success, the DOH executive said there is still uncertainty regarding how many will be vaccinated across the province. 

The HPV vaccination campaign will continue in various schools throughout Quezon Province in the coming months, with plans to expand outreach to adults, particularly mothers, as part of the ongoing mission to reduce HPV-related diseases.

ADVT.

This article is brought to you by Quezon Province LGU.

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