TACLOBAN CITY- The city government here has received awards after it topped in the vaccination program to combat the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

In a ceremony spearheaded by the Department of Health (DOH)-Eastern Visayas, Tacloban was cited for garnering 89% inoculation coverage against the disease.

City Health Officer Danilo Ecarma, who received the accolades during the Regional Awarding of Health Achievers on September 15, lauded the “widespread information drive” of the city government that resulted in the “significant success” of the city-led vaccination drive.

Ecarma maintained that “having only the primary vaccination series (first and second doses) will never be enough, as vaccine efficacy wanes to about 50 percent after four months.”

He then urged the residents to take their booster shots.

“For this purpose, the city government has moved the vaccination drive to the district health centers for easy accessibility,” said the City Information Office.

Meanwhile, Tacloban bagged the bronze award for the TB Preventive Treatment Rate (TPT) Category.

According to Ecarma, tuberculosis “remains a public health concern in the city as it records 1,200 cases annually.”

As this developed, the health official said Tacloban “has been proactive in this area by providing free services such as consultations and free medicines.”
(RONALD O. REYES)

BORONGAN CITY-The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Region VIII presented two awards to the Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (DPWH ESDEO) during the online meeting for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Mid-Year Agency Performance Review (APR) Consultation Cum Full-Time Delivery Unit Meeting (FDU) on September 6, 2022.

The DPWH Eastern Samar received physical accomplishment award in recognition for its commendable overall physical performance in fiscal year 2021 garnering average Physical Accomplishment Rate of 98.61% and ranked 3rd among the fourteen DPWH Operating Units in Region VIII.

Another award received by Eastern Samar DEO is the Obligation BUR Performer of 2021 in recognition for its commendable utilization of allotments in fiscal year 2021, garnering a 99.92% Obligation Budget utilization Rate (BUR) and ranked 1st among the fourteen DPWH Operating Units in Region VIII.

DPWH Eastern Samar District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia said that the awards received are the fruits of the great teamwork of DPWH ESDEO.

“I also commend my hardworking staff and the teamwork we had. These recognitions are only a bonus in our main goal which is to serve the public the best we could,” said DE Junia.

The district engineer also disclosed that in relation to the awards received from the DBM, the office was also recognized by the DPWH early this year as Ranked no. 4 District Engineering Office Nationwide in highest of absorptive capacity for the year 2021.(PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – Non-government organization Hellen Keller International (HKI) and the local government unit of San Roque in Northern Samar province have forged ties to study the vitamin A status of children in the 4th-class coastal town.

HKI Philippines Country Office Representative Maria Fatima Dolly Reario said in a statement on Friday the study seeks to come up with data-driven policies and interventions on health and nutrition in San Roque town.

“Through a screening study, we want to know if schoolchildren (from six to nine years old) in San Roque are sufficient in vitamin A to support good health. Vitamin A is found in supplements and foods like eggs, milk, liver, and some fruits and vegetables. It is important to help the body fight infections and maintain good eyesight,” Reario said. The project is a partnership of HKI, San Roque local government, Department of Education, Department of Health, and the Northern Samar provincial government.

It aims to promote data-driven policies and interventions on health and nutrition at the local level, initially through a screening study on the vitamin A status of school children.
Reario visited the town of San Roque on Sept. 20 for the signing of the pledge of commitment for the nutrition research collaboration with senior Board Member Don Abalon representing the provincial government of Northern Samar, and San Roque Mayor Maria Ana Abalon.

The study is a systematic process of collecting and analyzing data from a sample population of children from Kindergarten to Grade 3, designed to see the scale of vitamin A deficiency and inform policy interventions at the local level.

Northern Samar provincial information officer John Allen Berbon said in a text message that San Roque town has been picked as priority due to high incidence of vitamin A deficiency and the commitment of the local government to participate in the study.

The provincial government has no available data on the vitamin A status of children in the province.

Northern Samar along with Antique are among the provinces with the highest vitamin A deficiency prevalence among school-age children in the Philippines based on proxy indicators, such as the prevalence of stunting, wasting, poverty, and food insecurity, according to HKI. (PNA)