Robredo: Don’t politicize measles outbreak in Metro Manila

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MANILA, Philippines — Don’t politicize the recent measles outbreak in Metro Manila, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Wednesday.

“Sana yung ganitong kahalagang concerns hindi dapat na-popolitika, kasi kapag pinasukan ng politika… pag merong mga iresponsible na mga tao na binabahiran ng pagduda yung effectivity ng isang bagay na matagal nang na-test parang unfair ito sa ordinaryong Filipino,” Robredo told reporters at the UP Bahay ng Alumni in Quezon City after a covenant signing of the Otso Diretso, a group of senatorial candidates running in the May 2019 elections.

[I hope that concerns as important as this would not be politicize… because if there are irresponsible people who cast dbout on the effectivity of something that has long been tested, it would be unfair to ordinary Filipinos.]

She was referring to vaccinations, which some families have become wary of because of deaths of children being linked to the Dengvaxia vaccine against dengue.

“Yung pinakaunang iwasan, yung comments and akusasyon, yung nakaka-erode ng tiwala ng tao sa kung ano yung dapat nilang gawin lalo na pagdating sa health ng bata,” she added.

[First, we must avoid comments and accusations that erode the trust of people on what has to be done protect the health of children.]

“Eto, yung vaccination na ito maganda, yung numero na natin at papunta na tayo sa eradication [ng measles]. Tapos dahil sa mga irresponsible na accusations, mga buhay ng kabataan ang ating tinataya,” Robredo added.

[This vaccination has resulted in good numbers and we’re on our way to eradicating measles. But because of irresponsible accusations, the lives of our youth have been put at risk.]

The Department of Health has declared a measles outbreak in Metro Manila, after recording 196 cases from Jan. 1 to 19.

“We are declaring an outbreak as cases have increased in the past weeks and to strengthen surveillance of new cases and alert mothers and caregivers to be more vigilant,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

Asked how her office would the issue, Robredo said they would continue the Angat Buhay Communities program to promote health education.

“Isa sa systematic areas ng Angat Buhay ay health, universal health care. Patuloy ang intervention sa mga munisipyong nangangailangan nito,” she said.

[One of the systematic areas of Angat Buhay is universal health care. Municipalities that need it continue with their intervention.] /atm