Bulacan bagged the Malaria Excellence Award during the 7th Central Luzon Excellence Awards for Health (CLExAH) held recently at the Royce Hotel, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.
Vice Gov. Daniel R. Fernando, together with Dr. Jocelyn Esguerra-Gomez from the Provincial Health Office-Public Health, received the award for the province with other local municipality mayors.
Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said the award was given to the province for having no malaria cases in the last five years. “We did not neglect in this case, what we did… we maintained zero malaria in the province and we will continue to do so. This award is just a bonus and we do it for the benefit of every Bulakeyo,” Alvarado said.
Aside from this, the Luntiang Silong of the Bulacan Medical Center and the City of San Jose del Monte received the Pulang Laso Awards for implementating programs for HIV treatment hubs while Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Santa Maria bagged the Red Orchid Award for implementating No Smoking Policy.
Some municipalities of the province also received excellence awards in different categories.
The municipality of Angat and the CSJDM received the Governance for Health Internal Management Support (Local Health System Award); the municipalities of Hagonoy and Plaridel were recognized as top performing municipalities for TB Prevention and Control; and the municipality of Hagonoy and CSJDM were awarded for their Mother-Baby Friendly Health Initiative.
Recognition for regional voluntary blood program for achieving one percent blood collection from the total population were given to the municipalities of Plaridel, Angat, Pulilan, Balagtas, Baliwag and San Ildefonso.
The municipalities of Angat and Guiguinto were hailed as runners up for Purple Ribbon Award for proper implementation of Family Planning Program.( ELOISA SILVERIO)