The Municipal Health Office and Municipal Nutrition Office collaborated with the Provincial Health Office the activity which also marks the Family Planning Month.

Discussions focused on teaching beneficiaries the dos and don’ts during the first 1,000 days of pregnancy and post-pregnancy.

Elma Datoon, one of the beneficiaries, described the situation of Tinoto residents and their lack of reproductive health and natal care knowledge. She explained that pregnant women would usually wait until seven months to get their first pre-natal check-up “para isahan nalang.”

“Nindot siya na program kay para ma aware pud sila,” explained Datoon, “dili lang sa pagpabuntis, hangtud sa paggawas sa baby.”

Beneficiaries received health kits with diapers, alcohol bottles, sanitary napkins, and other pregnancy essentials, which Datoon described as very “important” since Tinoto collectively suffers from financial “crisis.”

Health Education Promotion Officer Rosalyn P. Tingzon of PHO explained that the “package” program integrated all necessary health care services in celebration of August as Family Planning Month.

The activity included the recently-launched Pinas Lakas Booster Activity to make COVID-19 vaccination accessible to the community as a “one-stop shop.”

Maasim Public Health Nurse Anecita Nierra reported that Tinoto belongs to the Top 5 barangays in the municipalities of Sarangani with the highest number of malnourished women and children. Nierra stressed the importance of bringing the services to the community, especially during these trying times.

“Ang iba wala sila ika-pamasahe sa downtown, ang iba walang pangbayad sa hospital,” said Nierra, explaining why the initiative chose Tinoto as the focal area of the event. She reiterated the situation of malnourished children in Tinoto, as well as the poverty-stricken fisherfolk families in the Barangay.

Nierra also extended her gratitude to their NGO partner, the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP), which provided subdermal contraceptive implants for willing attendees.

Pinky Malinao, Chapter Field Educator of SOCCSKSARGEN FPOP, wills to encourage young women and families to get the Covid 19 vaccine and avail other health services for the good of their families.

“Yung vaccine ay for protection not only for mother at for her baby rin,” Malinao said. She reassured families to participate in these activities and urged them to approach their offices for their health concerns. (Dyulliana Anushkah Toyogon, with Febilyn Arroza/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)