By Emmanuel P. Solis
LEGAZPI CITY, (PNA) – The Legazpi City Nutrition Office was named by the Regional Nutrition Committee as the second runner-up for best performing city in the region.
Iriga City is the outstanding city while Tabaco City is the first runner-up.
Dr. Gloria Balboa, Department of Health Bicol regional director and Regional Nutrition Committee chairperson, handed the plaque of recognition to Dr. Fulbert Gillego, Legazpi City health officer, during the Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony held Wednesday at the Venezia Convention Center in this city.
The Barangay Imalnod of Legazpi City, represented by chairman Allan E. Llaneta, was also included among the top performing barangays in the region while Barangay Nutrition Scholar Lyra v. Magracia of Barangay Oro Site, also of this city, was named 2nd runner-up in the regional outstanding barangay nutrition scholars category.
Other regional winners in this category were Jimnah A. Llagas, most outstanding; and Marilou A. Jimenez, first runner-up.
“This recognition will serve as another inspiration to all of us to continue to work for the nutrition program of the city to always put our children in a healthy condition,” Gillego said.
He urged all barangay officials and health workers to work hand-in-hand for the effective implementation of the city’s nutrition program to address malnutrition and free the children from any sickness.
The city health official said his office is very active in providing health services to children by implementing the Sagip-Kalusugan Program that involves medical check-up of all the identified malnourished children, free laboratory examinations, regular feeding activities, chest X-ray, de-worming and vitamin supplementation.
He said his office has conducted several nutrition educational activities in all the 70 villages of this city to promote nutritional guidelines such as breastfeeding, infant and young child feeding, responsible parenthood and maternal and child health care.
Arlene Reario, Bicol Nutrition Program coordinator, pointed out that this search is the result of a thorough evaluation of health workers who work effectively for the good health of the pre-school children in their respective localities.
Reario said the Regional Nutrition Committee will continue the search to inspire other health workers to work for the implementation of the nutrition program to eradicate malnourishment in the community.