TACLOBAN CITY-The first ever Human Milk Bank for Visayas was installed on Thursday, Feb. 28, at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) in this city.
Costing an approximate P9 million, the equipment that preserve the human milk is a lone donation of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in its aim to help the people in the region promote exclusive breastfeeding and prevent disease and mortality among babies and infants.
As Chief of EVRMC, Dr. Salvador Evardone, expressed his overwhelming joy during the inauguration program, because according to him, this is another health program which the region’s medical center can give service to the people with excellence.
Asked why EVRMC was chosen among other big hospitals in Eastern Visayas, Dr. Wigdan Marani, UNICEF’s representative and chief for health and nutrition said, that after super typhoon “Yolanda,” they saw how EVRMC responded to the traumatized victims of the disaster, children in particular.
“We were witnesses of babies and infants in need of medical attention and nutritional intervention. We knew then they could not be fed properly of their mothers’ milk because of the trauma the parents themselves manifested from the enormous disaster,” Dr. Marani shared.
“In an area that is prone to disaster, there could be a high incidence of infant mortality, thus UNICEF pours medical and nutritional assistance for the people in Tacloban in particular, being the most “Yolanda” devastated area,” Marani added.
She also appealed to lactating mothers to donate their milk to help save the lives of babies requiring the world’s best milk.
The Human Milk Bank is capable to store the human milk in a week time, after it has undergone the process from expressing to pasteurizing to thawing etc.
It is made available to babies needing to be fed with the human milk as prescribed by a doctor.
“Breastfeeding mothers have only to include any soup of their taste in their diet to produce the milk, so there wouldn’t be any problem in producing it, as other mothers assert they don’t have,” said Dr. Nelita Salinas, EVRMC’s chairman of Pediatrics Department, “and since the milk is donated, it shall be given free, except for the pasteurizing cost of P220 per 100ml,” Dr. Salinas further informed. (AENicart/PIA-8)
Human Milk Bank for Visayas installed at EVRMC
DPWH finishes P40-M river landing in Eastern Samar
BORONGAN CITY- Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (DPWH ESDEO) completed 16 river landing projects in the upstream barangays in Can-avid, Dolores, Oras, Eastern Samar.
These river landing structures are convergence projects of DPWH funded by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
These completed projects were constructed at the five upstream barangays in Can-avid, Eastern Samar namely Malogo, Mabuhay, Camantang, Caghalong, and Baruk; another six barangays in Dolores, Eastern Samar particularly in Sta. Cruz, San Pascual, Magsaysay, Denigpian, San Roque and Buenavista; and another five remote areas in Oras, Eastern Samar in Cagdine, Gamot, Batang, Alang-alang and Cadian.
According to District Engineers Manolo A. Rojas, river landing projects are small ports constructed along the shore of rivers at the upstream barangays.
DE Rojas also disclosed that the completion of the projects will provide convenient and safe facilities to commuting public and easy transportation of goods and services to nearby mainland.
Meanwhile, the project manager of DOTr-Maritime Sector Julius Carlos said in an interview that these projects were mentioned by President Duterte in his first state of the nation address (SONA) regarding the socio-economic development that promotes inter-island linkages.
“With the absence of a road network, the next best means of transportation especially in the island provinces is to use water transport. DOTr implements these development projects to give the people the privilege of a safe, convenient and affordable transport experience throughout the archipelago,” said Carlos.(JAYSON ESPESO,PR)
Breast milk saves babies, infants from measles — DOH-8 official
TACLOBAN CITY- On top of the vaccine, breast milk could have minimized the number of measles-infected babies and infants in the region.
So said Dr. Exuperia Sabelberino, assistant regional director (ARD) of the Department of Health 8 (DOH-8) during the inauguration ceremony of the Human Milk Bank on Thursday, Feb. 28, at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC), here.
“Babies are protected from diseases when mothers breastfeed them exclusively from birth to six months and up to two years,” she said.
“However, there is a very low coverage in the region, of mothers who are feeding their babies with their milk only, despite the best quality that is being told them by health workers and media,” she added.
Sabelberino recalled that in the olden days, there were lesser babies who were affected by measles, six months after birth, because they were fed exclusively with their mother’s milk.
“In the recent days, however, babies as young as three months were already reported to have been infected with the highly viral disease, some even died,” she lamented.
“It could be because many mothers today, either are not aware or refuse to believe that the human milk is filled with substances that are not present in animal’s milk nor in other commercial formula,” she pointed out.
“Breastfeeding should be a multi-sectoral concern, from correct information, advocacy campaign to behavior change and practices, because breastfeeding is more than just a nutrition,” Dr. Sabelberino concluded.
(AEN/PIA-8)
Mayor Cristina officiates “Kasalang Bayan” for 129 couples
TACLOBAN CITY-Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez officiated the wedding of 129 couples from 37 barangays at the Tacloban City Convention Center (Astrodome) on March 1, 2019.
The couples enjoyed the free ‘kasalang bayan’ or mass wedding, a regular program of the city government through the City Civil Registrar’s Office (CCRO).
Fees for marriage applications and marriage licenses were also waived for the newlyweds and a free wedding reception was sponsored for them by the local government.
Mayor Romualdez, in her message during the mass wedding ceremony, reminded the couples that marriage is a covenant between the couple and advised them to be steadfast in their relationship.
Sixty Seven-year-old Eduardo Penidillo and Clarita Enosario, 65 were the oldest beneficiaries of the program. The couple who were unable to hold a wedding because of poverty has been living together for 30 years.
Coinciding with the event was the launching of the #iLabaYu advocacy campaign of Oxfam with celebrity influencer Camille Prats.
According to Oxfam, the campaign encourages men to share in household chores, particularly laundry and contribute to raising a future generation of Filipinos that live out the true meaning of respect and equality beginning at home.
Prats was accompanied by Oxfam Country Director Rosario Felizco. The non-government organization partnered with the CCRO for the free civil wedding program.
Philippine Statistics Authority Leyte Director Wilma Perante, City Social Welfare Officer Remedios Buna and CCR Officer Imelda Roa also witnessed the Mass Wedding.
Before the event on Friday, the couples attended a pre-marriage orientation and counseling activity conducted by the City Population Office, in coordination with the CSWDO that had topics on “Marriage and Relationships”, “Responsible Parenthood,” “Child Rearing” and Family Planning.”
According to the CCRO, Pre-Marriage Orientation and Counseling is “pre-requisite” activity for would-be spouses to help ensure a strong and healthy married life.
(HENRY JAMES ROCA/CIO)
Town mayor denies claim he plays politics in identifying gov’t-sponsored housing project
In Biliran
TACLOBAN CITY – The mayor of Culaba town in Biliran denied that he delisted families from the list of a housing project.
Mayor Lorenzo Reveldez said that he was surprised on the allegation saying that the list has been drawn three years ago.
These families are living in coastal areas identified by the government as risk areas reason they are to be resettled in safe zones.
“The final list was submitted to the National Housing Authority in 2016,” Reveldez said in an interview conducted by online website Biliran Island on March 2.
The NHA constructed about 700 housing units in Barangay Guindapunan.
“Who told them that if they will not vote for me and my brother ,who is running for mayor, will be delisted? How can we not award them the house if their name is in the list? Reveldez said in the same interview.
Earlier, some residents of the town claimed that their names were either delisted from the list of the housing resettlement project or purposely lifted out due to politics.
They also alleged that Mayor Reveldez asked them to ‘vote straight’ and in return, would be included in the list.
Reveldez is running for vice governor of the province in this year’s May 13 elections with his brother, Rodito, who is an incumbent town councilor, running for mayor.
“I don’t want to accuse but I know politics has to do with this issue. We know that election is coming and issues even they are untrue will come out to destroy other candidates,” Reveldez said.
“Maybe I am a threat (to them) that is why they are throwing issues against me. But I can’t dictate the people whom they should vote for. If they will choose me, then I will thank them but if not, I have to accept it,” Reveldez added.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
QUEEN MOTHERS
