Google map of Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte.
BUTUAN CITY – Two health workers of Kicharao town in Agusan del Norte were fired upon while on their way to hold oral polio vaccination on Wednesday in a mountain village known to be frequented by the communist New People’s Army (NPA), police said.
A report from Kitcharao Municipal Police Station said Ingrid Ramos Archinue, the head nurse of the municipal health office in the area, together with Jenifer Morales Veterbo, a midwife was on board a vehicle when fired upon by the suspected NPA members.
The incident happened in the barangay road of Kalipayan, Sitio Zapanta in Kitcharao town, the report added.
Archinue and Veterbo were in the area for the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio campaign of the Department of Health in the Caraga Region (DOH-13).
Both health workers were not hurt during the attack, although the police said the front windshield at driver’s side of the vehicle was damaged.
DOH-13 director Jose R. Llacuna Jr. on Thursday said the OPV vaccination in Kitcharao town will continue despite the incident.
Llacuna said he will meet with the victims and the local officials of Kitcharao regarding the incident and the status of the continuing OPV vaccination in the area.
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office in Caraga Region (PRO-13) condemned the harassment of the health workers.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the PRO-13 said the incident proved the hostile intentions of the NPA to the civilians in the area.
"The NPA does not spare from their cruelty health workers who were in the area to cater to the health needs of the people," the PRO-13 added. (PNA)
