Camiguin boosts children’s programs

CAMIGUIN Island — In providing a strong foundation of the appropriate values as well as in protecting the constitutional rights of a child, the provincial government is stepping up its children’s programs through the Padayong Pagserbisyo sa Katawhan, and Essential Health Care Program.

Yesterday, the province opened its Camiguin Youth Welfare Home with a bed capacity of 10-20 clients.

During its latest meeting, the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children (RCWC), Zenaida Cainglet of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office said from July to August, the province has already served 8,000 less privileged school children with slippers, supplementary feeding, lice treatment, food packs and used clothing through the programs.

With the EHCP, all of the 74 Child Development Centers were provided with additional supplies composed of kiddie toothbrushes, bottled poly paste, soaps, nail cutters, lice shampoo and stinger (suyod). There is also a continuous monitoring and supervision on deworming and human papillomavirus immunization.

As for the strengthened Early Childhood Care and Development on day care services, Poblacion CDC building of Mambajao is scheduled to be enhanced so it can be accredited already.

The provincial government is also set to upgrade the province’s Child Minding Center. Currently, there are 11 children enrolled in the center with two care-givers. The center offers services to children two months old up to 2.11-year-old toddlers.

Cainglet said the CMC accepts infants as long as they are breastfed stressing that such babies have a better immune system making it easier for caregivers to attend to their needs. It is also a way to promote breastfeeding in the province.

“These and more programs for the children make Camiguin not only a hub for tourists but also a good place to raise children,” Cainglet said. (pia x)