Proclamation No. 773, s. 1996

UP'" Vi MALACANANG MANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES PROCLAMATION NO. 773 DECLARING APRIL 17 AND MAY 15, 1996 . WEDNESDAY OF APRIL AND MAY FRO1.' "KNOCK OUT POLIO" DAYS AND EVERY THIRD 1996 TO 2000 AS WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 147 dated March 3, 1993 which declared National Immunization Days (NIDS) for 1993 to 1995 launched the country into active involvement to reach the global goal of poliovirus eradication; WHEREAS, Vaccination (OPV); have achieved 90% we of Oral Polio a coverage WHEREAS, a decline in the reported polio cases from 15 cases in 1993 to only 10 cases in 1994 has been noted and that no wild poliovirus has yet been isolated in these cases from 1993 until now; WHEREAS, the Philippines hopes to be certified as a Polio Free country in t];le next four (4) years; WHEREAS, to be certified, the Philippines needs to sustain high OPV coverage and good quality surveillance for at least four (4) more years: WHEREAS, only Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) doses given simultaneouslyto all children younger than 5 years old can lead to polio eradication; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republicof the Philippines, by virtue of the power vested in me by laws, do hereby: Declare April 17 and May 15, 1996 and every third Wednesday of April and May from 1996 to 2000 as "KNOCK OUT POLIO DAYS". 2. Designate the Department of Health (DOH) as the lead agency for the "KNOCK OUT POLIO" campaign tasked toformulate the guidelines to ensure the success of thiscampaign. The Department of Health (DOH) may coordinate with any other government agency, non-governmentorganizations, whether local or international, local, . lING. PLEASE CITE: 2 - government units, civic groups and other concemed sectors for such assistance as may be needed to sustain high OPV coverage and attain good quality Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP). surveillance. 3, Call on all government and non-government agencies including industries and establishments to strongly encourage their employees to bring their children to the Patak Centers and to allow them to be volunteers during this campaign. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affIXed. DONE in the City of Manila, this 28~ day of the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Six 1n March PMS II BRh;'N By the President Received -'O,moo K1 ~