BALANGA CITY – The Bataan Provincial Health Office (PHO) is urging parents of children aged 0 to 59 months to visit their nearest barangay health station for their children’s weight and height measurements.
This initiative is part of Operation Timbang, a program designed to monitor the nutritional status of children under five and ensure their optimal growth and development.
PHO Bataan Health Education and Promotion Officer Jemuel Banzon Bornolia explained that regular weight and height monitoring allows health workers to detect early signs of malnutrition and provide necessary interventions to improve children’s health.
“Through this program, we can identify children who may be underweight or stunted and provide them with the necessary support and appropriate nutrition program,” Bornolia said.
In addition to child nutrition efforts, the PHO is encouraging adolescent girls and women of reproductive age (10 to 49 years old) to take advantage of the weekly iron and folic acid supplementation program.
From January to March and June to September, girls in Grades 7 to 10 can receive supplements in public schools, while other eligible women can visit their nearest health center for free supplementation. This initiative aims to prevent iron-deficiency anemia and promote maternal health.
The PHO remains committed to strengthening public health initiatives that safeguard the well-being of children and women in Bataan. It continues to collaborate with local health units to promote a Healthy Settings approach through Healthy Schools and Healthy Communities, ensuring accessible and effective health programs across the province. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Bataan)