The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) has announced that it will be receiving support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Relief International, a humanitarian organization, for the third tranche of the COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Support (CDS3) Project.
The project aims to vaccinate children 2 years old and below through the assistance of barangay health workers in Reaching Every Purok (REP).
Governor Aris Aumentado welcomed UNICEF-Bohol consultants and Relief International representatives last week.
He expressed his gratitude for the partnership and assured that the PGBh will provide the necessary support and coordination for the successful implementation of the project.
Bohol is among three provinces in the region that are receiving support from Relief International along with UNICEF.
The other two are Cebu and Negros Oriental. According to Relief International, the project is part of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted routine immunization services and increased the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases among children.
The project will prioritize 12 local government units (LGUs) in Bohol, namely: Tagbilaran City, Dauis, Panglao, Talibon, Ubay, Tubigon, Loon, Inabanga, Jagna, Carmen, Mabini and Carlos P. Garcia. These LGUs were selected based on their low immunization coverage rates and high incidence of COVID-19 cases.
UNICEF and Relief International will lead a micro-planning session in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and PGBh on October 10, 2023.
The session will involve the planning of vaccine delivery strategies, identification of target beneficiaries, training of health workers and volunteers, procurement of vaccine supplies and equipment, monitoring and evaluation of project outcomes and impact.
The CDS3 Project is expected to run from October 2023 to March 2024. It aims to reach at least 80% of the eligible children in the target LGUs with COVID-19 vaccines.
The project also hopes to strengthen the capacity of the health system and community in delivering quality immunization services and promoting vaccine acceptance and demand.