Gov’t raises awareness on NMI’s health needs

In an effort to raise a healthy community through various health services, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio on Friday endorsed April 22 to 28 and April 22 to 29 as National Infant Immunization and Cancer Awareness Weeks.

Mr. Tenorio said the CNMI is fortunate that active immunization program begun under the US Navy administration in the late 1950s. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act created the Vaccines for Children Program as Section 1928 of the Social Security Act on August 10, 1993.

“The Department of Public Health in the CNMI offers this service at no charge to children. All school-aged children are required to provide a blue health certificate or proof of compliance with immunization requirements,” said Mr. Tenorio.

DPH officials have instituted policies for children to receive vaccinations against nine diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertusis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, and haemophilus influenza type B.

Further, more than 85 percent of CNMI children under two years old are up to date with all their vaccination while about 90 percent of children entering schools for the first time are updated on their vaccination requirements.

The governor said the National Infant Immunization Week with a theme of Vaccine is the Gain, Disease is the Pain, should raise awareness about immunization issues and encourage members of the community to protect children from deadly infectious diseases.

He added that proper immunization lays a foundation for lifelong health, keeping children safe from deadly diseases which still exist and placing the children at risk.

The CNMI government is committed to the policies that would strengthen immunization services to the NMI people particularly children under the age of 12, Mr. Tenorio explained.

Alongside with the week-long awareness on the importance of vaccination, the American Cancer Society is also celebrating its first year of enhancing public awareness about the deadly disease: cancer.

According to ACS, cancer is an important problem worldwide, killing some 563,000 men, women and children each year. Cancer is rated the second leading cause of death in the United States among men, women, and the chief cause of death in children under the age of 15.

Mr. Tenorio endorsed both week-long awareness week to educate the public on the importance of a healthy community. He urged CNMI residents to join hands and participate actively in spreading the immunization message and regular screening to detect cancer. (EGA)