Tubod, Lanao del Norte – In a campaign to rid this fast-rising province of the deadly tetanus infection, the Provincial Health Office is conducting a province-wide supplemental immunization for women aged 15 to 40 years old.

Dubbed as Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE), the health intervention is supported by the Department of Health (DOH), World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

The MNTE aims to reduce the number of maternal and neonatal tetanus cases to such low levels that MNT is no longer a major public health problem.

Maternal and neonatal tetanus have been among the most common lethal consequences of unclean deliveries and umbilical cord care practices. When tetanus develops, mortality rates are extremely high, especially when appropriate medical care is not available.

And yet, maternal and neonatal tetanus deaths can be easily prevented by hygienic delivery and cord care practices, and by immunizing mothers with tetanus vaccine.

Throughout the country, only 10 local government units have been granted the free immunization program and in region 10 only Lanao del Norte was approved.

“We are going to vaccinate every woman in our province. We shall be conducting the tetanus toxoid immunization by municipality and if needed go house to house to ensure that every woman is given this important booster shot”, Provincial Health Officer Melania Untao stressed.

The first round of vaccination is scheduled on the month of September 2011. The second round of booster shot will be administered on October 2011, while the third round will be given six months after or on April 2012.

Town mayors have also expressed full support to the program to convince the women sector in their community to avail of the free immunization.

“We have also tapped our rural health units, our rural health officers to help identify the women in their communities to ensure a 100% vaccination”, Untao added.
In Mindanao, other LGUs approved by WHO for the anti-tetanus booster shots were Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Marawi City and Cotabato City. VNL/PIO-LDN