Camarines Norte supports DepED’s Essential Health Care Program

15 February 2012

Fit for School Press Release

Handwashing and toothbrushing will soon be part of the day-to-day activities of elementary school children in Camarines Norte.

On February 14, the local government of Camarines Norte signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Education (DepED) and Philippine NGO, Fit for School (FIT). The formalized agreement will ensure the continued support and implementation of the Essential Health Care Program (EHCP) in the province.

For two years now, the division of Camarines Norte has been an active advocate of DepED’s flagship EHCP – a program that focuses on three simple effective interventions namely daily handwashing with soap, daily toothbrushing with fluoride, and twice yearly deworming. Initial implementation of the program was funded by UNICEF and Procter and Gamble (P&G), but did not yet extend to all schools and all children year-to-year. With the help of the local government, all schools will soon receive full packages for school year 2012-2013.

Through FIT's advocacy, Camarines Norte is the second of ten LGUs under the UNICEF and P&G support project that has successfully transformed the initial support into a program owned, funded, and implemented by the local government and the schools division. Northern Samar recently also launched the program while plans are in progress for Aurora, Tarlac, Guimaras, Antique, Cebu, Davao City, Zamboanga del Sur, and Sarangani to follow suit.

Guests and witnesses who graced the event included Camarines Norte Provincial Administrator Joey Boma, Provincial Planning and Development Office Administrative Assistant Ellen Austria, Provincial Nutritionist Dietician Mercedes Juan, Schools Division Superintendent Arnulfo Balane, Medical Officer Dr. Lirio Palencia as well as representatives from UNICEF and P&G. Also present were the DepED Health Personnel and all school principals in the province.

The Essential Health Care Program is implemented by the DepED, funded by various LGUs, and supported by FIT and other partners. Through its interventions, EHCP has been proven to effectively lower malnutrition, oral infections, and absenteeism. Started in 2009, the program currently targets more than 2 million Filipino children and now covers 53 school divisions, including seven in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

For more information on Fit for School and the Essential Health Care Program, visit www.fitforschool.ph or www.facebook.com/fitforschool.ph.**

Handwashing and toothbrushing will now be part of the day-to-day activities of elementary school children in Camarines Norte.

For two years now, the division of Camarines Norte has been an active advocate of DepED’s flagship EHCP – a program that focuses on three simple effective interventions namely daily handwashing with soap, daily toothbrushing with fluoride, and twice yearly deworming. Initial implementation of the program was funded by UNICEF and Procter and Gamble (P&G), but did not yet extend to all schools and all children year-to-year. With the help of the local government, 253 schools will soon receive full packages for school year 2012-2013.

Guests and witnesses who graced the event included Camarines Norte Provincial Administrator Joey Boma, Provincial Planning and Development Office Administrative Assistant Ellen Austria, Provincial Nutritionist Dietician Mercedes Juan, Schools Division Superintendent Arnulfo Balane, Medical Officer Dr. Lirio Palencia as well as UNICEF Philippines Water and Sanitation Chief Tim Grieve. Also present were the DepED Health Personnel and all school principals in the province.