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Dengvaxia kid-vaccinees unleash artistic works

By Saul Pa-a

October 27, 2018, 7:34 pm

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – Around 500 Dengvaxia-vaccinated high schoolers and their parents gathered at the “First Mental Health Fair for Dengvaxia Vaccinees” on Friday and partook in the day-long psycho-social and health services from the Department of Health (DOH) Calabarzon regional office.

The activity is in partnership with the provincial, city health offices and local government units (LGUs) to unleash their artistic potentials and de-load stresses from the vaccination blunder.

DOH Calabarzon Regional Director Dr. Eduardo C. Janairo spearheaded the mental health fair for the health department’s team of doctors, health workers and LGU officials to conduct follow-throughs and continuing services for Dengvaxia vaccinees in this city, which has the highest number at 6,364 out of 35,232 Dengvaxia vaccinees in Laguna.

Adopting the localized theme, “Malusog ng kaisipan, para sa pangkalahatan, handog ng Kawagaran ng Kalusugan (a healthy mind and mental wellness for all offered by the Department of Health), the day-long event provided services on psycho-social interventions, de-stressing activities and information drive including distribution of anti-dengue kits to the vaccinees at the LLC Auditoirum, Central II Elementary School.

Around 250 Dengvaxia vaccinated school children from Calamba City’s upland barangay Palo Alto National High School had their field day at the array of health booths on music therapy for relaxation and listening exercises, nutritional assessment and counseling, oral and dental health services, free hair cut, face art painting and other freebies to unwind the kids’ stress and anxiety and the on-the-spot poster art competition, where nine contending budding kid artists slugged it out to clinch the prizes.

Vladimir Andrei S. Acerden, 12, Grade 7 bagged the first prize for the poster art reflecting his views and concepts on the anti-dengue vaccination program and brought home PHP 1,500.

Acerden’s art work depicted a split image of a child vaccinee, showing contrasting views on the good and ill effects of the vaccination, but he said “wala naman pong epekto sa akin yung itinurok (the vaccination has no effect for me)” in an interview with PNA.

Second placer Marjohn F. Lagrazon, 12 also Grade 7 said he used the syringe as symbol of the vaccination that sparked an uproar over varying yet inconclusive effects of the vaccine.

He received PHP 1,000 for his masterpiece and told PNA “hindi pare-pareho ang tingin sa injection sa amin (there are varying views on the vaccination to us) and thought it was just a normal injection like any other”.

“Kahit naturukan ako ng Dengvaxia, mabubuhay naman ako ng matagal, mahal naman ako ng nanay ko (Even though I was vaccinated with Dengvaxia, I will live longer since my mother loves me)," quipped an optimistic 12 year-old Zyrell Ramrod Cuaycong, a 7th Grader, who placed 3rd and received PHP500.

His winning poster depicted a jubilant kid raising a torch to symbolize hope amid the furor of the Dengvaxia vaccination program.

“Ang mga magandang bunga ng mga training ng mga psycho-scoial sa mga health workers, ay hindi lang yung magconduct sila ng mga activities na katulad nito, mga araw-araw nilang pakikisalamuha at pakikipag-usap sa mga parents at doon sa mga bata. Ngayon pa lang, marunong na sila kung ano ang gagawin at mga approach nila pagdating sa pakikipag-usap at pakikipaghalubilo para sa kanila (the psycho-social training for the health workers has resulted in conducting activities besides this, but their day-to-day interaction and guidance to parents and their children. Now, they already learned how and their approach in mingling with them),” Janairo said.

Janairo encouraged the school kids and parents to think positively and remain healthy as no one could say for sure that the vaccination has any effect in their bodies so far.

“Don’t ever think that what happened to the other child could also happen to you. Each of us has a different life and different body. Every day you live, and that means there is hope),” he advised the kids, prescribing the importance of physical exercise, mental wellness, right food and the proper protection from diseases.

He also told parents that except for the ill-fated Dengvaxia vaccine, other DOH vaccines that have already been proven under their immunization program - such as the measles vaccine, thyroid vaccine, and other - are vital protections given in schools and at the rural health units (RHUs). (PNA)

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