COTABATO CITY — The Department of Health (DOH) in Region 12 presented this city an exemplary award of recognition Thursday, after besting other areas for registering zero maternal and neonatal tetanus cases this year.
The city of Cotabato is the only local government unit given such award in the region for successfully eliminating cases of mothers and newborn babies being infected by tetanus, according to DOH 12.
Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and the cities therein of Cotabato, Koronadal, Kidapawan, Tacurong and General Santos.
“The city LGU, through the efforts of its Office on Health Services has achieved this goal through its intensive information dissemination and thorough care for pregnant women in the city,” Halima Satol-Ibrahim, city information officer, said.
Only this year, several state-of-the-art birthing facilities were opened in different parts of the city. These clinics receive patients on a daily basis, decongesting the number of pregnant women waiting in line to give birth at hospitals in the city.
“We are expecting to open more in 2018,” Ibrahim said.
Over the past several years, the city has been implementing all-inclusive programs for its constituents, albeit the continuing development of infrastructure and other government facilities to deliver topnotch social and economic services to Cotabateños.
“Hence, among the many recognitions the city received this year, the third Seal of Good Local Governance from the Department of Interior and Local Government, being the latest,” Ibrahim said.
With the continuous support from national line agencies and concerted effort of the local government employees, Ibrahim said she believes that the city could achieve more in terms of glory and progress. (Noel Punzalan/PNA)