Loren
warns against rise of preventable diseases
SEN. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on health
and demography, renewed her call for a “massive and
sustained vaccination drive” to protect the people against
preventable diseases, especially as high temperatures are
causing more people to be prone to disease.
“The curative approach in medication
is much more costly than the preventive approach. It must
also be considered that many preventable diseases have lifelong
consequences, ranging from hearing loss and speech defects
to more severe ones such as brain abscess and meningitis,”
said Legarda.
She added, “Many are having second thoughts
about having their children vaccinated but the current situation,
both global and local, refutes the practicality of belated
action. Many kinds of diseases and strains of viruses have
sprouted lately. Some have mutated into more deadly ones.”
Legarda cited the pneumococcal diseases or
PDs that easily spread from person to person through droplets
in the air.
While PDs are vaccine-preventable, Legarda
said the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) is not included
in the national immunization program of many countries such
as the Philippines.
“Vaccination becomes even more vital
because of the prevalent malnutrition in our country. Poor
malnutrition and lack of vaccination put the health of our
children in peril. Clearly, we have to act swiftly and efficiently,”
said Legarda.
The value of vaccination translates into health,
social, and economic benefits for the community such that
we must identify means and ways to improve vaccine coverage
nationally and locally.
According to health authorities, battling
PDs is crucial in achieving the Millennium Development Goal
of reducing child deaths under five years of age. Indeed,
there is a need to move fast to prevent PD and save lives.
“The pharmaceutical industry should
be our partners in safeguarding the health of our citizens
and in ensuring that the future of our country will remain
bright and healthy,” Legarda concluded./PN
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