In a bid to strengthen immunization efforts and achieve regional health goals, a Coalition Building Workshop and Regional Technical Working Group (RTWG) Meeting on the implementation of the National Immunization Program (NIP) were successfully conducted, bringing together key members and stakeholders from across the region. The event, held from January 8-10, 2025, in General Santos City, aimed to evaluate past performance, strategize for the upcoming year, and enhance collaboration among healthcare professionals, partner agencies, and organizations.
The activity commenced with an opening address by Dir. Aristides Concepcion Tan, DOH XII Regional Director (RD), who highlighted the importance of vaccination as a cornerstone of public health. “Immunization is our strongest tool in preventing disease outbreaks, safeguarding children, and ensuring healthier communities,” Dir. Tan remarked.
Among the key highlights are the Review of 2024 Achievements and Challenges of NIP wherein the participants conducted a detailed assessment of the previous year’s immunization coverage. Notable successes included increased vaccine uptake in some areas. However, challenges such as vaccine hesitancy, logistical issues, and funding gaps in the local government units (LGUs) were also acknowledged, and Planning and Target Setting for 2025 in which participants emphasized innovative approaches, including community engagement campaigns, outreach programs of the LGUs, house-to-house visits, deployment of mobile vaccination units, enhanced cold-chain infrastructure to maintain vaccine efficacy during transportation, digital tracking systems for vaccination, and training programs for healthcare workers, among others. Special attention was given to improving access in remote and underserved areas.
Region XII also set an ambitious target of achieving 95% immunization coverage for all priority vaccines by the end of 2025. The fully immunization coverage (FIC) rating is one of the identified indicators of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Audit–a flagship program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), under its Health Responsiveness and Compliance criteria. Moreover, FIC rating indicator was already endorsed to DILG Central Office, particularly to the National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO) to include the said indicator in the Seal of Good Local Governance for Barangay (SGLGB) Audit framework.
During the activity, participants engaged in interactive sessions and panel discussions, fostering partnerships among DOH XII medical professionals, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector representatives. The participant from this office was Local Government Operations Officer (LGOO) V Cristy Jane A. Buenaflor who represented DILG XII RD Atty. Rochelle Mahinay-Sero, CESE.
The Coalition’s TWG will again meet for the finalization of its Term of Reference (TOR), Action Plan, and Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement by the 3rd week of January
2025. This regional initiative will soon be presented tentatively on January 30, 2025, during the National Immunization Summit in Manila.
The event concluded with a commitment to work collectively toward a healthier and more resilient region. “This workshop has been an incredible opportunity to realign our efforts and recommit to our mission of protecting lives through immunization,” said Dr. Amebella G. Taruc, DOH XII Division Chief.
As the region moves forward, the lessons learned and strategies developed during the workshop are expected to pave the way for a successful year in immunization efforts, ensuring that no one is left behind.
