Millions of infants and young children from poor communities nationwide have been assured a healthier future as the government has allocated nearly half a billion pesos this year for a massive program designed to provide children from low-income families with free immunization against debilitating diseases, the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) announced recently.

NAPC Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban said the government has allotted some P484 million for the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) of the Department of Health (DOH) this year to ensure that all Filipino children are immunized against tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, and measles.

"This DOH program, which will mainly benefit children from poor and low-income families, is in line with President Arroyo's commitment to secure a bright and healthy future for all Filipino children," Panganiban said.

NAPC is the lead monitoring agency for the Arroyo administration's pro-poor programs.

Panganiban said the government's expanded immunization program targets children 54 months old and below, and is undertaken through the support of health workers at the local level.

"The DOH, under the leadership of Secretary Francisco Duque, reports that the EPI regularly reaches around 94% of the country's barangays. In some cases, local health workers go door-to-door to ensure that all children within a given area are properly immunized and protected," Panganiban said.

He said that the EPI includes the distribution of Vitamin A capsules and deworming tablets, as well as health education, public information and social mobilization services.