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Gota de Leche Participates In The Buntis Congress of Danglas, Abra

MOA signing with LGU Danglas, Abra (L-R) Dr. Joan Lampac, Municipal Health Officer; Hon. Denise Florence Bragas, MD, Municipal Mayor of Danglas, Abra, Marilou de la Cruz, Gota de Leche Programs Support Specialist, and Karla Maria Calpito, Gota de Leche Program Associate
MOA signing with LGU Danglas, Abra (L-R) Dr. Joan Lampac, Municipal Health Officer; Hon. Denise Florence Bragas, MD, Municipal Mayor of Danglas, Abra, Marilou de la Cruz, Gota de Leche Programs Support Specialist, and Karla Maria Calpito, Gota de Leche Program Associate

Danglas, Abra: A fifth-class municipality of Abra and with a population of around 4,200, Danglas hosts a yearly event geared towards pregnant and lactating women. Called the “Buntis (pregnant) Congress”, this event runs for two days (from October 17-18)  with a series of lectures aiming to educate expectant mothers, and are attended by both pregnant women and representatives of the DOH and Philhealth provincial offices.

Because the Buntis Congress is in keeping with Gota de Leche’s main program for pregnant and lactating moms, Danglas’ Municipal Health Officer Dr. Joan Lampac decided to endorse 36 pregnant and lactating women from their town as beneficiaries. The event’s second day was therefore given over to Gota de Leche’s Service Day, with 28 of the 36 beneficiaries in attendance. The Memorandum of Agreement for a six-month program – signed by Municipal Mayor of Danglas Hon. Denise Florence Bragas, MD, Municipal Health Officer Dr. Joan Lampac, and Gota de Leche’s Marilou de la Cruz and Karla Maria Calpito – was accomplished during the opening of the event to accommodate the mayor’s schedule.

Some of the beneficiaries during Gota de Leche's Service Day at Danglas, Abra
Some of the beneficiaries during Gota de Leche’s Service Day at Danglas, Abra

For each beneficiary, the program will provide 10 “mannapacks” per month as part of the nutrition support, which is a projected supply for two months. Gota de Leche’s supportive program partner Vitamin Angels also sponsored six months’ worth of multivitamins for the beneficiaries, along with a Buntis Pack by the Danglas LGU. The next distribution of nutritional supplies will be in January 2020, with a Municipal Health Unit of  Danglas report expected by December 2019.

Program Associate Karla Maria Calpito also conducted a cooking demo and preparation of the meal packs. Some of the mothers participated in the activity.

Program Associate Karla Maria Calpito conducting a cooking demo with some of the Danglas beneficiaries
Program Associate Karla Maria Calpito conducting a cooking demo with some of the Danglas beneficiaries

The LGU Danglas was in full support of the event, with almost all the personnel of Municipal Health Unit (MHU) present and helpful for most of the conducted activities. The Service Day is also supported by Gota de Leche’s partners Vitamin Angels and Rise Against Hunger, Philippines.