World Vision signs MOA with LGUs to implement KOICA Maternal Newborn and Child Health Project
Jasper M. Maglinab, Advocacy Specialist – KOICA MNCH Project ,
Genesis Jeff Lamigo, Communications Manager, WVDF
World Vision recently signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with partner Provincial and Municipal Local Government Units (LGUs) in Northern Samar and Samar to implement the Korea International Cooperation Agency’s (KOICA) Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Project in Eastern Visayas Region on November 24, 2022 in Oriental Hotel, Palo, Leyte.
The MOA Signing Ceremony, attended by the Provincial Vice-Governor of Northern Samar, Municipal Mayors, Vice Mayors, Municipal Health Officers, and Public Health Nurses of the Municipalities of Palapag, Laoang, Silvino Lubos, Pambujan, Matuguinao, San Jorge, Basey, and Marabut.
Present during the ceremony were KOICA Philippines Country Director Mr. Kim Eunsub, KOICA Philippines Assistant Country Director Ms. Ahrum Lee, World Vision Korea Vice President for International Ministry Soonyoung Choi, World Vision Philippines National Director Rommel V. Fuerte, Operations Director Ajab-Aram R. Macapagat, Finance Director Zuzee Sabare, Project Director Jihwan Jeon, and Project Manager Bonifacio M. Calapan.
In his message, Mr. Kim Eunsub emphasized that the health sector remains one of the priority areas of the Korean government for its official development assistance (ODA) cooperation with the Philippines. “Through this project, we reaffirm our commitment in providing support to our development health partners here in the country. We truly hope that this project will further improve the health of women, children and its other beneficiaries,” he said.
Department of Health Region 8 representative Dr. Fidelita Dico and National Nutrition Council Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr. re-affirms their support in the implementation of the project and to strengthen the partnership to reach the most vulnerable target beneficiaries.
Vice Governor Arnold Tan likewise expressed his thanks and gratitude to KOICA and World Vision for the commitment to help and assist the province in the MNCH program being one of the priority areas of the provincial local government of Samar.
The KOICA MNCH Project aims to Ensure Healthy Lives of Mothers and Infant/Child to Reduce Maternal Mortality Rate by improving maternal and child health service level through enhanced community MNCH service seeking behavior and strengthened community engagement, ensuring quality MNCH service provision to secure DOH facility certification, maximizing development effectiveness and maternal and child health outcomes, and enhancing awareness to increase possibility for expanding MNCH project.
The target beneficiaries of the project are pregnant and lactating women/adolescents, community health workers, RHU medical personnel, children under 5 years old, and caregivers and support the global goals on Good Health and Well-Being and Gender Equality.
Last December 2021, the same MOA was signed between World Vision and Provincial Local Government Units of Leyte and Eastern Samar covering the municipalities of Pastrana, Tabontabon, Tolosa, Santa. Fe, General Macarthur, Quinapondan, Taft, and Dolores.
