Latest news with #UNICEFPhilippines
GMA Network
31-07-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
DOH, UNICEF launches app to digitize PH immunization records
The Department of Health, in partnership with UNICEF Philippines and funding from the government of Japan, has launched a digital application to aid in tracking immunization records of Filipino children on Wednesday. Digivacc is a series of digital applications that aided in management of immunization data, allowing parents and health centers access a child's vaccination records without having to refer to paper-based trails. 'Digivacc stands not only as a platform, but as a promise—a promise of a more connected, more responsive, and more equitable immunization delivery system. Today, we launch an important innovation to enhance the digitalization of health information nationwide. This used to be just my dream, but now we are seeing the reality,' said DOH Assistant Secretary Gloria Balboa. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, DOH said they saw the need for real-time updates and records to help in creating more efficient solutions. 'With Digivacc, health workers on the ground are equipped with tools to record and track immunization data in real-time, ensuring no child is missed and every dose is accounted… More than the platform itself, Digivacc represents a shift in mindset from being reactive to pro-active, from fragmented paper-based systems to integrated digital health ecosystems, from manual data reconciliation to real-time data visualization that can save lives,' said Balboa. Japan, who provided funding for the program, said that they will continue to support the Philippines in its goal for digital transformation in the health sector. 'Japan sees infectious disease as a global challenge that requires international cooperation, while also understanding that effective solutions must start as a community level… We believe when digital solutions outline the national priorities and implement them inclusively, they can accelerate progress towards sustainable development goals, especially ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being, including our children,' shared Japan Embassy in the Philippines' Minister for Economic Affairs Yokota Naobumi. 'Digivacc, our key initiative under this project, highlights the importance of collaboration, supporting public policy, encouraging community involvement, and using technology to help protect the health and future of every Filipino child… We are proud to support to project, and hopeful that it will close the gaps in the traditional immunization… Rest assured, the government of Japan remains committed to supporting initiatives that help build a stronger foundation for healthier communities now and for future generations,' he added. Meanwhile, UNICEF Representative Ad Interim Edgar Danoso shared that they saw and acted on a clear mission of finding a better way for reporting and reforming childrens' immunization data. 'We vision our work where every child can grow up healthy and protected against diseases. When children are vaccinated, they perform better at school and contribute to nation-building… By digitalizing and interpolating our health systems, we unlock the culmination of data. We make it more transparent, timely and national. This is especially important when it comes to immunization,' he said. Under Digivacc, groups have presented two component applications namely VaccTrace, which helps workers record and view immunization records wherever, and VaccCheck, where patients may view and track their child's immunization progress, as well as note when the next vaccinations should be. The platform will have its initial deployment in 13 local governments nationwide. Earlier, the Department of Health shared that they are targeting to immunize 95% of Filipino children within a year. Complete and speedy vaccinations were among the health improvements that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for during his 4th State of the Nation Address. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
17-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
UNICEF calls for climate-resilient schools in PH
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara are ushered inside a classroom by a teacher at Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School in Malate, Manila on Monday, June 16, 2025. DARLENE CAY/GMA Integrated News UNICEF Philippines is calling on the government to prioritize the development of climate-resilient schools in the country as students return to school during the rainy season. UNICEF made the appeal ahead of the country's submission of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) — the Philippines' updated climate action plan under the Paris Agreement — to be presented at the upcoming COP30 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil. The organization urges the government to ensure the new NDCs are 'child-sensitive,' with concrete commitments to protect children's right to continuous, quality education amid worsening climate threats. 'The climate crisis is not just changing the planet, it is changing children,' said Behzad Noubary, UNICEF Philippines Representative Ad Interim. "Climate-related class disruptions deprive them of opportunities to develop the necessary foundational and socioemotional skills to thrive in the future,' added Noubary. The World Risk Index has ranked the Philippines as the country with the highest disaster risk for three years in a row. Meanwhile, a UNICEF study places the Philippines as the second most climate-vulnerable country for children in East Asia and the Pacific. According to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), students in disaster-prone areas lose up to a month's worth of school days each year due to weather-related disruptions. The same report found that the Department of Education (DepEd) incurs nearly ?18 billion in annual losses due to damage from natural hazards. Floods, typhoons, and earthquakes routinely damage classrooms, destroy learning materials, and restrict student access, especially in remote areas where transport infrastructure is also compromised. Climate goals UNICEF stressed that schools can play a vital role in both climate adaptation and mitigation. 'Children cannot afford to wait. If we want to secure their future, we must act now. We need to transform climate goals into reality for children,' Noubary emphasized. UNICEF is already working with school communities across the country to develop resilience through training, resources, and localized emergency preparedness protocols. It is also promoting inclusive and participatory climate action in schools, empowering students to advocate for their own rights and for the protection of their learning environments. The organization is also pushing for climate investments that allow schools to better anticipate, absorb, and adapt to disasters — whether through stronger buildings, remote learning solutions, or climate education. 'We have a responsibility to ensure that every child — no matter where they live — can go to school safely, learn without interruption, and prepare for a future shaped by the climate crisis,' Noubary said. As the government finalizes its climate roadmap for the next decade, UNICEF's message is clear: quality education must not be a casualty of the climate emergency. Ensuring that children learn in safe, inclusive, and resilient environments is not just an environmental goal — it is a moral and developmental imperative. UNICEF is the United Nations agency dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of every child, especially those most vulnerable. Working in over 190 countries and territories, UNICEF strives to help children survive, thrive, and reach their full potential, no matter the challenges. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
