MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The City Health Office (CHO) here renewed its commitment to push forward sustainable health and nutrition programs for young learners to ensure the safe reopening of schools in line with the expansion of limited face-to-face classes.

CHO chief Dr. Ali Dalidig said having good health plays a vital role in learning because education and health go hand-in-hand.

"While some relevant school subjects, like Health and Physical Education classes, are an important part of schools health, the evidence is clear that the skills and knowledge gained through these classes alone are not enough to provide students the strong foundation they need to live lives that are physically, emotionally, socially and mentally healthy," he said during the recently concluded Barangay Education Summit.

Stressing that CHO has been promoting sustainable and holistic health and nutrition programs for better learning outcomes, Dalidig outlined some of the vital programs of CHO to enhance the delivery of quality education in the city.

One of its programs is Operation Timbang to ensure that children are not malnourished or overweight which may impose a risk of developing health problems that could hinder their learning and performance in school. 

He also disclosed that CHO provides micronutrient supplementations such as Vitamin A, ferrous sulfate, and zinc not only to school children but also to teachers as these micronutrients are proven to boost immunity and has a significant contribution in controlling morbidities and illnesses.

Services such as deworming are also offered to children. "Regular deworming contributes to good health and nutrition for children of school age which in turn leads to increased enrolment and attendance, reduced class repetition, and increased educational attainment," the CHO chief explained.

Dalidig said they also provide dental services like Flouridization which strengthens the teeth of children. "We believe that good health starts with good digestion and good digestion starts with healthy and strong teeth," he further said.

The CHO is likewise making sure that children before reaching school age are fully immunized to prevent the re-emergence of communicable diseases.  Dalidig said having fully immunized children in classrooms assures every parent and teacher that their young ones are far from acquiring fatal diseases. 

Fully immunized children, he added, are also found to have improved academic achievement, have healthier positive attitudes, and have enhanced physical, mental and social health. (APB/PIA Lanao del Sur).