FLORA, Apayao – Some 57 children and 6 undernourished mothers benefitted from the Karinderya para sa Healthy Pilipinas program of the Apayao Provincial Health Office (PHO) and Department of Health (DOH).
Said program was launched on July 31, in Flora, Apayao as part of the celebration of National Nutrition Month.
With an allocated fund of 3.9 million pesos from the Department of Health (DOH), the initiative seeks to provide sustainable solutions to combat malnutrition not only in Flora but throughout the entire province.
The program’s implementation requires active involvement from the local community, as stated by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Mark Calban, who emphasized the need for partnership in successfully executing the initiative.
Calban expressed his hopes to witness a decline in malnourishment numbers across the province through more effective and comprehensive strategies.
Beneficiaries of this program are assured of improved services from local karinderyas, which have been capacitated to serve nutritious and presentable meals. This initiative aims to uplift the health and well-being of children under the age of five and undernourished mothers by providing them with free and healthier food options for 120 days.
“With the support of the local karinderyas, we aim to improve the meals provided to the beneficiaries. It is crucial that the food served is not only nutritious but also delicious and presentable,” remarked Charlyn Tagabing of DOH Apayao.
The 120-day feeding program is expected to significantly impact the beneficiaries’ health, and the community looks forward to observing positive changes in the overall nutritional status of children and mothers.
This initiative is a significant step towards building a healthier and stronger future for the province, and it exemplifies the government’s commitment to combating malnutrition and promoting healthy diet and lifestyle in the province. By JC Marquez