By: Sherwin Comia & Vang Mendoza

In connection with the improvement of the nutritional status of the municipality, Municipal Health Office headed by Dr. Marjolyne V. Ona, launched a program to solve problem in malnutrition with the theme “Nutrisyon ay Pangalagaan upang Malnutrisyon ay Maiwasan” concerning low weight children from ages 1-12. Arnold Valencia, medical technologist together with the assigned midwives in every barangay had visited day care centers and elementary schools in the locality to conduct Hematocrit and Hemoglobin examinations. The said examinations were useful to determine the pupils with anemic or suffering from Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) to enable the Health Office can provide immediate cure or prevention even before it manifests.

Arnold Valencia (Municipal Med. Tech.) and Susan Malabanan (Municipal Midwife) conducting  Hematocrit and Hemoglobin Examination at Calaca Central School while elementary pupils wait for their turn.

For the information of the public, IDA resulted from poor intake of iron from daily diet, excessive blood loss or presence of intestinal parasitism. Whenever the person lacks iron in the body, he is very prone to infection, gets easily tired, has poor memory and inactive.

The program pushed through, due to Mayor Nas Ona’s advocacy to eradicate malnutrition in the place as he believes that healthy community will lead to a progressive Calaca.