ANGELES CITY — The city government here commenced the Sabayang Patak Vitamin A and deworming campaign for kids aged 6-59 months old on July 3, 2023, targeting 856 Angeleño kids.
Mayor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin Jr. led the administration of Vitamin A supplements to 30 kids in Barangay Cutud and 10 more kids in Barangay Pulung Cacutud.
“Gaya po ng ginagawa po natin noon, tayo po mismo ang gagawa nito at bababa sa mga barangay, tayo po mismo ang kakatok sa bahay-bahay upang maseguro na malusog ang pangangatawan ng mga batang Angeleños,” he said.
The same operation will be conducted in Barangays Pulung Maragul and Sapalibutad on July 4, 2023; Lourdes North West and Sta. Trinidad on July 5, 2023; and Margot and Sapangbato on July 6, 2023.
Mayor Lazatin implemented the Sabayang Patak Vitamin A program since he took office and is among his priority missions for Angeleño kids – to end the fight against nutritional deficiencies and at the same time promote an immunized community.
Meanwhile, City Nutrition Officer Jermaine Jam Aguila shared that last May 2023, her office together with the City Health Office, headed by Dr. Verona Guevarra, has already administered Vitamin A supplements to 30,200 kids during the Measles Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccination drive of the city.
The targeted 856 kids are the remaining ones who haven’t receive yet their vitamin supplements, bring up the target of the city to a total of 31,056 children from the 33 barangays.
According to Aguila, this is part of the city government’s celebration for Nutrition Month with a theme “Healthy Diet gawing affordable For All.”
In addition to vitamin A supplements, kid-beneficiaries will also receive vitamin C, facemask, and seedlings.
Furthermore, two mascots named Laz and Tin – the brainchild of Mayor Lazatin – will also be present during the administration of vitamin supplements to serve as the epitome of “Batang Angeleño malusog at masigla.”
“The mascots are also our way of conversing with the parents that nutritional supplements being administered and given to kids by our nutrition scholars and health workers are safe and for the betterment of their health,” Lazatin said.