Manila: Local government chiefs across Northern Mindanao urged public cooperation Friday for the upcoming nationwide measles-rubella vaccination campaign for children. Mayor Riza Delos Santos of Clarin, Misamis Occidental said the Department of Health's (DOH) Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity on Jan. 19 to Feb. 13 is crucial. "Measles and rubella are both contagious illnesses and may severely affect children," she said in an interview.

According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Lorenzo of Ma±igos Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte called for his constituents' cooperation, noting that an LGU has the responsibility to keep communities healthy. Mayor Amie Galario of Valencia City, Bukidnon directed full departmental and village-level support.

The DOH, through the Department of the Interior and Local Government, is directing LGUs to help achieve the 95-percent vaccination goal by participating in the campaign for children aged six to 59 months. Dr. Germaine Mariz Labadan of the DOH Family Health Cluster warned that measles may lead to severe complications like pneumonia or brain infection.