Cops join anti-polio drive in Maguindanao

BAKUNADOR. Bangsamoro police officers manning a checkpoint in Maguindanao administer anti-polio shots on children aboard public and private vehicles passing by a police checkpoint in Barangay Pinantao, Parang, Maguindanao. PRO-BARMM photo

PARANG, MAGUINDANAO –– Police authorities in the Bangsamoro region actively participated in the rollout of “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio” by acting as “bakunador” to children who traveled with their parents and stopped at checkpoints for inspection.

At 9 a.m. Thursday in a police checkpoint in the village of Pinantao in Parang town, police officers led by Lt. Colonel Edgar Putiz, chief of the Regional Health Service of the Bangsamoro police, helped administer oral polio vaccines to children on board passing vehicles with their parents.

Maguindanao health authorities have targeted full coverage of children eligible for the vaccine to quell the rise in the number of polio cases in the province, which now has seven.

Lt. Darren Glenn Reyes, nurse officer, and Major Michelle Deiparine, chief nurse, gave anti-polio shots to children aboard all vehicles traveling from the towns of Barira, Buldon, and Matanog in Maguindanao, and even those from Lanao del Sur who have to pass by Barangay Pinantao.

Earlier, Brig. Gen. Marni Marcos, regional director of the Bangsamoro police, has directed all police personnel across the region to actively participate in the campaign against polio.

The Bangsamoro covers the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu. and Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Cotabato, Marawi, Lamitan, and the 63 villages in Cotabato province.

Marcos’ directive includes allowing cops to volunteer to administer the vaccines to children, and providing security to health providers going to remote areas of the region.

Lieutenant Colonel Guer Law Andolana of the police’s Regional Health Services, earlier coordinated with the Maguindanao health office and the Parang rural health unit for police participation in the anti-polio campaign.

“Masaya makita na pati mga police nagbibigay ng anti-polio vaccines sa mga anak namin (We are glad to see police officers administering anti-polio vaccines to our children),” said Bai Susan, whose daughter was among the recipients of anti-polio drops while they were traveling to Cotabato City from Barira town.

Marcos said the police participation in the drive against polio would continue until the end of the massive vaccination on Feb. 2.

Dr. Elizabeth Samama, Maguindanao health chief, lauded the police participation in the campaign, as it provided additional manpower to about 600 “bakunadors” across the province.

BAKUNADOR. Bangsamoro police officers manning a checkpoint in Maguindanao administer anti-polio shots on children aboard public and private vehicles passing by a police checkpoint in Barangay Pinantao, Parang, Maguindanao. PRO-BARMM photo

BAKUNADOR. Bangsamoro police officers manning a checkpoint in Maguindanao administer anti-polio shots on children aboard public and private vehicles passing by a police checkpoint in Barangay Pinantao, Parang, Maguindanao. PRO-BARMM photo

Edited by Lzb