Healthcare providers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are now working double-time in their vaccination campaign in the region’s component areas to achieve their desired population protection.

Dr. Bashary Latiph, BARMM health minister, said Monday that the recently conducted “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” in the BARMM was considered successful although the region failed to reach the target clients of 940,000.

To date, the region has inoculated more than 680,000 out of its 2.9 million eligible target population.

Latiph said BARMM “bakunadors” (vaccinators) will continue the campaign with added dynamism as it increased the number of vaccination hubs to 570.

“We are intensifying our vaccination, there are still people out there who have not availed of the immunization, we will continue to reach out to them,” Latiph said.

“Our provincial, municipal, and barangay healthcare providers are now out there to continue our job,” he added.

MOH-BARMM has tallied a total of 195,440 vaccine doses administered in the region during the massive vaccination activity from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1.

Data released by MOH showed that 162,352 jabs were entered into the vaccine operations reporting system, while 33,088 were manually recorded.

As healthcare providers and “bakunadors” resumed their enormous task of reaching out to the residents in geographically difficult-to-reach areas, Latiph lauded the various BARMM government agencies that accompanied MOH during the three-day activity.

“Kudos also goes to men in uniforms, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, and volunteers for the support they have shown during the Bayanihan, Bakunahan,” he said.

The BARMM covers the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan and Marawi; the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi; and the 63 villages in six towns of North Cotabato. (PNA)