The government officially launches the BakunaEskuwela campaign at Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School in Sampaloc, Manila.
Dr. Ingrid Magnata, Country Program Manager of Jhpiego Philippines, emphasizes the importance of HPV vaccination for young girls, reinforcing the need for health initiatives that protect their health.
“Jhpiego lauds the DOH and DepEd for the resumption of school-based immunization after years of not being implemented due to school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful that our commitment and support to the government have contributed to this achievement,” said Dr. Ingrid Magnata, Country Program Manager of Jhpiego Philippines.
Jhpiego- a global leader in health and a Johns Hopkins University affiliate- has been instrumental in preparing the school-based immunization activities as part of its technical assistance to the Department of Health. Through the HPV Vaccination Acceleration Program Partners Initiative (HAPPI), Jhpiego provided guidance on the prioritization of local government units and public elementary schools where HPV vaccination has been implemented amidst the limited quadrivalent HPV vaccines procured by the DOH through a series of workshops with the National Immunization Program (NIP) of the DOH’s Disease Prevention and Control Bureau (DPCB).
“HPV vaccination is crucial for young girls, both in and out of school. Schools and communities play vital roles in improving access and ensuring protection from cervical cancer. Jhpiego remains committed to its role in partnering with the government in Saving Lives, Improving Health, and Transforming Futures,” added Dr. Magnata.
In addition, Jhpiego supported the conduct of a two-day Bakuna Eskuwela Orientation and Planning Workshop for the 16 Department of Health Centers for Health Development (DOH-CHDs) subnational offices, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao – Ministry of Health (BARMM-MOH), including the communication plans and the use of the global school readiness assessment tool on September 5-6, 2024.
Jhpiego reinforced the Bakuna Eskuwela preparation by supporting the Department of Education’s (DepEd) orientation of focal persons on school-based immunization for its 17 Regional Offices and 223 School Division Offices (SDOs) on September 12, 2024, through a hybrid platform in partnership with the Department of Health-Health Promotion Bureau and the School Health Division of the Bureau of Learner Support Services (BLSS) of the DepEd.
About Jhpiego:
Jhpiego is a nonprofit global leader in creating and delivering transformative healthcare solutions for women and families worldwide. As an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, Jhpiego in the Philippines has worked with the Department of Health (DOH), local government, and civil society to build health providers’ skills and develop systems that save lives and guarantee healthier futures for women and their families for over 40 years.
Geri Matthew “Choi” Carretero is a Bicolano multidisciplinary artist, independent curator, and community development worker. He is the co-founder of the Kurit-Lagting Art Collective and a member of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines. And is the Communications and KM Officer, of Jhpiego.
