Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman together with City Health Officer Dr. Mohrein Ismael VI led, June 23, the Joint Meeting of the Local Health Board and City Nutrition Council.

As discussed by HEPO Bernardita Hontucan, Focal Person on COVID-19 Vaccination Jane Buenbrazo and City Program Coordinator for Mosquito Borne Diseases Maridol Dela Cruz, details about the “Chikiting Ligtas” Measles-Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR- OPV SIA) accomplishment of the city were presented. Also raised was the scheduled launching of Bivalent COVID-19 Pfizer Vaccine on July 01, though initially limited to A1 and A2 only within 4 to 6 months after their primary and booster doses.

It was also emphasized that primary doses and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines are done regularly and are routinely integrated into the programs and services of Isabela City Health Office (CHO), and to date, CHO has administered a second booster dose to 2.44% (2,234 only compared to 117,630) of the target population.

Third in the agenda was the concern about cases of dengue in Isabela City. Identified as the Top 5 barangays with the highest cases of dengue are Menzi and Sumagdang (tied at first), San Rafael and Tabuk (tied at second), Aguada, and Lanote. The body then recommended a revisit of the Kiti-Kiti Ordinance, and stated that dengue testing is available at the CHO Laboratory Clinic provided there is a request from a doctor.

In the aspect of nutrition, the City Nutrition Action Focal through RND Gem Abdurahman presented data about the rollout of the Electronic Operation Timbang Plus Tools (eOPT) among 16,896 children in the city, of which 15,272 or 90.4% have already been assessed. It was also revealed that Isabela City has already passed the Seal of Child-Friendly City requirement for 2022 based on the data of children on stunting and wasting as 44 out of 45 barangays have submitted data. In addition, the 120-Day Supplemental Feeding was recently launched at Barangay Diki as the latter has the highest number of stunted and severely wasted children. Of note was the fact that for the first time, the Department of Health deployed a nutritionist-dietician at LGU-Isabela City.

As a sustained program of action to the issues of nutrition in the city, the Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (PIMAM) –a multisectoral approach to ensure access to evidence-based and life-saving cure of malnutrition was also relayed. Included in the actions are responses for children with issues on overnutrition /undernutrition, acute, severe and moderate malnutrition that may be fatal for children.

In closing, the said group also discussed the slated activities of the upcoming Nutrition Month 2023 with the theme: “Healthy Diet gawing affordable FOR ALL!” in collaboration with the Department of Education – Isabela City.

Lending their support were Councilors Candu Muarip and Karel Annjaiza Sakkalahul, City Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Gay Palagtiosa, and representatives from the CAGO, CDRRMO, CHO, and DepEd-Isabela City. (Words by M. Guerrero/Photos by M. Santos, CIO)

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