Tacloban City (October 12) -- Region 8 will join the whole country in celebrating the Garantisadong Pambata Week or Preschoolers Week on October 16 - 20, 2006, Department of Health (DOH) Region 8 Director Benita Pastor announced.

Director Pastor said that this year's activities will revolved around the theme "Garantisadong Pambata 4 in 1 Kalusugan sa Inyong Health Center." She said that this activity is part of the overall Bright Child campaign which is being conducted bi-annually, one in April and the other one in October.

Street children, human trafficking and bright child were some of the topics discussed by DSWD-8 regional director Letecia Corillio (left) with the local media during the "Harampang ha PIA" in connection with this year's observance of October as Children's Month. At right is PIA-8 regional director Olive Tiu, moderator. (Photo by Vino R. Cuayzon)

The main objective, Director Pastor said, is to highlight the essential health interventions and to promote good child rearing behaviors among mothers and caretakers.

For this month of October Garantisadong Pambata 4 in 1 refers to Bitamina A or vitamin A supplementation, Bakuna or immunization, Breastfeeding and Purga sa Bulate or deworming.

To start the week-long campaign, Director Pastor said that a motorcade along the major thoroughfares of Tacloban City and a launching program will be held on October 16, 2006 at 8:30 in the morning.

The launching program will be held at the Bliss Sagkahan Gym while the motorcade will start at the RTR Plaza and will culminate at the Blisss Sagkahan Gym.

The Launching Program will be graced by Undersecretary of Health Dr. Nemesio Gako and Director Jaume Y. Lagahid who is the director of Infectious Diseases Control, Director Pastor also revealed.

The launching program will be followed by a Luncheon Press Conference at around 11:30 in the morning which will be facilitated by the Philippine Information Agency. This is in recognition of the help in media in the advocacy program.