Capitol works on child rights - Guv

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Lilia G. Pineda said Friday that the Provincial Government is working hard to intensify and uphold the four main rights of the children -- survival, protection, participation, and development rights.

Under survival, the Provincial Government underscored its maternal care program with the help of barangay health workers and social workers.

It was learned that some 17,950 pregnant mothers underwent pre-natal care in the municipal health and rural health centers while 12,768 were monitored in the 11 district and provincial hospitals; 31, 517 were given tetanus toxoid immunization; 29, 280 received iron supplement and 998 were given vitamin A supplement.

Pineda said “with this maternal health care program, we can be sure that pregnant mothers are safe and the infants are healthy upon birth.”

To ensure the health care for the mother and child during birth, the provincial government pushed the construction of birthing station through the help of the Department of Health (DOH).

“Sa tulong ng Department of Health nagkaroon na ng klinikang paanakan sa Emigdio Cruz district hospital sa Arayat at sa Dr. Andres J. Luciano District Hospital sa Magalang,” Pineda said.

The Capitol has also allotted P6 million for the construction of birthing stations in Bahay Pare and Salapungan in Candaba and Sta. Lucia Resettlement in Magalang.

Upon birth, the needed vitamins and vaccines of the child against sickness are already prepared under the child care program of the Capitol.

In fact for the past 2 year and 3 months of the administration of Pineda some 29, 276 children were injected with BCG (Bacillus Calmatte Guerin) against tuberculosis; 145,985 were given DPT1, 2, 3 against Diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus; 148,085 given Oral Polio Vaccine o OPV 1, 2, at 3; 64, 241 injected with vaccines against Hepatitis B1, B2 and B3; 24, 848 children given with anti-measles vaccine; 23 613, fully immunized children (FIC); 16, 742 – Child Protected At Birth (CPAB); 5, 624 underwent oral rehydration therapy; 2, 697 children with pneumonia were cured; 189, 514 – vitamin A Supplement; 29, 455 –newborn screening and 201 094 children were dewormed.

It has a total of 2, 019, 794 children were given health care assistance from 2010 (395,636), 2011(742,984) and 2013 (881,174).

The Capitol has also implemented a child care program for 2 to 5-year-olds particularly those undergoing pre-school.

Around 2,318 pre-school children found to be underweight or malnourished were given medicines and vitamins while some 55,714 pre-schoolers benefited with the feeding program.

Protection right

Under the protection right, the incumbent governor has pushed measures in the provincial board that will give enough protection for the children to avoid abuses particularly in the family.

With this, the Provincial Board has approved the enactment of the Provincial Child Welfare Code sponsored by Third District Board Member Trina Dizon, chairperson of the Committee on Family and Children.

The governor has instructed the Provincial Social Welfare Office headed by Elizabeth Baybayan in coordination with the Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation to form the Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention Network (CAPIN) which was given fund allocation to ensure the implementation of the program for the protection of the Kapampangan children and youth.

With this, the birth of Child Protection Units in all provincial and district hospitals in the province was realized wherein Single Child Friendly Interviews are being conducted with the assistance of the newly-formed Multi-Disciplinary team to avoid trauma to child victim of abuses.

“A Protocol Manual on Child Abuse Management was outlined to give direction on how to handle child abuse cases,” Pineda said.

We will also revitalize the active participation of the Local Council for the Protection of who directly supervise and safeguard the rights of the children to avoid child abuses in communities.

The Capitol through the governor has constructed a new dormitory for the abused girls and women in Haven Pampanga, a women facility of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which serves as sanctuary for abused women and girl children.

Participation right

The Provincial Government is also open for the suggestion from the youth sector and encourages their active participation in government’s decision making process represented by Youth Council Chairperson Krizzanel Garbo in the Provincial Board.

The Capitol is also pushing for the construction, repair and renovation of 605 day care centers in the province and if needed, the governor wants additional day care workers to man the centers.

Future plan

The Provincial Government wants to put up reading centers in every barangay for the benefit of the school children and students and encourage them with study and reading habit.

The governor said she is planning to hire barangay social workers to formulate and implement provincial plans and programs for the welfare and protection of the children.