Sa isang press conference, sinabi ni Provincial Health Office chief Dr. Glory Baltazar, na Bataan ang kauna-unahang lalawigan sa buong bansa partikular sa government sector na gumamit ng naturang teknolohiya ng Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST) para matugunan ang problema sa kakulangan ng iodine na maituturing na isang uri ng malnutrition na hindi nakikita.

    Ang Tubig Talino ay isang iodine-rich drinking water na nakakatulong sa proper growth at brain development kung saan naiiwasan ang pagkakaroon ng goiter o pamamaga ng thyroid glands.

    “Bagamat marami nang attempt ang ating pamahalaan para masolusyunan ang problema sa iodine deficiency gaya ng paggamit ng iodized salt ay marami pa rin ang ginagamot na may mga sakit nito,” ani pa Baltazar.

    Ipinahayag ni Dr. Rosanna Buccahan, PHO director for public health program, na kasama ang Tubig-Talino project sa action plan ng Provincial Nutrition Committee na pinamumunuan ni Gov. Garcia kung saan ang kanilang target beneficiaries ay mga pre-school at elementary school children na nasa ilalim ng kanilang feeding programs.

    Tiniyak naman nito na walang naitala sa Bataan na may IDD bagamat batay sa nutrition survey ng FNRI-DOST, lumilitaw na ang may highest prevalence ng IDD ay sa Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

    Sinabi naman ni Dr. Rosario Sagum, senior science research specialist ng FNRI, na may sariling water laboratory at kakayahan ang PHO-Bataan kaya’t napili nila ito para magtaguyod ng nasabing teknolohiya. Ang Tubig Talino Refilling Center ay matatagpuan sa PHO compound sa lungsod na ito.

Hon., Enrique T. Garcia Jr. has once again touched the lives of forty two (42) families who have children afflicted with Cleft Lip/Palate.They were benefited during the 3 day Free Cleft Lip/Palate Surgical Mission from April 17-19, 2008.

The mission facilitated by the PHO II, Dr. Glory V. Baltazar was in partnership with the Philippine Band of Mercy, a non-government organization that provides free Surgical Operations (Cheiloplasty) for indigent children, patient with said deformities.

The families of these children were so thankful to the goverhnor for his program including the construction of the 99 bed hospital building at the Bataan General Hospital where they became the first patients to avail of its services. Other post operative needs of the patients were provided through the cash assistance of Php 1,000.00 each.

Another schedule of Cleft Lip/Palate operation is being considered in the last quarter of this year having realized the impact of this program.