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The Department of Health (DOH) recognized the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Latter-day Saint Charities (LDSC), for its continued partnership with the department in its immunization programs in the Chikiting Ligtas Champion Recognition virtual program on April 29, 2021.
The program was held in celebration of World Immunization Week with the theme “Vaccines Bring Us Closer,” in collaboration with the United Nations Children and Education Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
LDSC was given recognition as a partner of the DOH for its contributions to the Department’s campaign implementation of the Measles Rubella-Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity, which is a campaign organized to ensure that children receive life-saving vaccines for serious diseases in the midst of the pandemic.
Dr. Kim Patrick Tejano, Program Manager of the National Immunization Program of the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, underscored the importance of religious and faith-based organizations in raising awareness and preparing local communities for the rolling out of immunization programs in an approach that involves the whole of society.
“Vaccine hesitancy from rapidly circulating misinformation around the topic of vaccination adds to this threat [children at risk of serious diseases such as measles and polio]. In this context, this year’s campaign aims to build solidarity and trust in vaccination as a public good that saves lives and protects health,” said Dr. Maria Rosario S. Vergeire, OIC-Undersecretary of Health, speaking of the Department’s efforts made in cooperation with its partners to encourage a positive view of vaccination in the local community.
Latter-day Saint Charities and Immunization
One of LDSC’s primary initiatives is immunization; the humanitarian arm of the Church runs efforts with the aim of preserving the life and protecting the life of all people, but particularly children who are most vulnerable. LDSC does this by partnering with organizations around the world, including the Philippines’s DOH, to provide monetary support to deliver and improve vaccine delivery systems, disease monitoring, healthcare worker training, and vaccine procurement among other services.
The Church is a known supporter of vaccination efforts and campaigns worldwide through the work of LDSC, and has continued to support vaccination efforts worldwide, including in the present COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, the Church, through LDSC committed US$20 million to UNICEF’s COVID-19 vaccination effort, which will supply 2 billion vaccines to around 196 participating countries.