Oldest Charity NGO in the Philippines kicks off 120th Anniversary celebration with “Love Your Health Day” in partnership with Manila City Health Office

Gota de Leche (translated as “Drop of Milk”), together with the District IV Manila Health Office will provide multiple medical and nutrition services for 150 families ahead of Valentine’s Day, to support basic health care and to promote understanding of the inter-connectedness of dental health, reproductive health, mental health and proper nutrition with long-term physical health and over-all productivity.

Ever since Gota de Leche was founded in 1906 in Quiapo by a group of patriotic women, led by revolutionaries and illustradas Concepcion Felix, Librada Avelino, Pura Villanueva, Asuncion Soriano and Trinidad Rizal, to address the problem of infant and maternal mortality after the Philippine-American War, the mission of spreading the “milk of human kindness” has been continuously and consistently carried out by volunteers and professionals, with generous donors keeping its programs strong, even through epidemics, natural calamities and conflagrations.

Later incorporated as La Proteccion de la Infancia, Gota de Leche expanded its clinic after World War II to established the first privately-run pediatric hospital, the Manila Children’s Hospital (MCH), in 1949, with Dr. Fe del Mundo as its first Medical Director. It was in the early 1950s, at the height of a widespread dengue epidemic in the country, that the City of Manila joined forces with MCH to treat thousands of children stricken the fever and its complications.

This Valentine’s Day activity is being conducted in cooperation with the Manila City Health Office, led by District IV Health Officer Dr. Dolores T. Manese, MD and the team from the Manila City Health Office led by Dr. Veronica V. Saringan, DMD. For more information, kindly contact Gota de Leche Programs at info@gotadeleche.ph or 8516-0542.