NEWS RELEASE || 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐄𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟓𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡

SURIGAO DEL SUR, July 30, 2025—𝗜𝗻 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟱𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁, 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹, 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹, 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟮–𝟮𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 “𝗦𝗮 𝗣𝗣𝗔𝗡: 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮-𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗮𝗽𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝗵𝗮𝘁,” 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗯-𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 “𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆! 𝗦𝗮𝗽𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗸𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻!”, 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

The outreach program was implemented in three far-flung schools: Simowao Elementary School, Han-ayan Elementary School, and Ban-as Elementary School, delivering vital health services and educational sessions to hundreds of learners. At Simowao ES, dental teams provided 83 oral examinations, 30 tooth extractions, and 50 fillings. A total of 133 learners benefited from the feeding program, while over 40 underwent health assessments. Learners also participated in lectures on school mental health, drug education, reproductive health, and child protection, alongside hygiene activities such as delousing, toothbrushing, and handwashing.

At Han-ayan ES, the program served 49 learners through educational lectures and meal provisions. Dental services included 13 oral examinations, 16 extractions, and 34 fillings, while 34 learners received health assessments with support from medical professionals and nurses from Surigao del Sur.

The outreach concluded at Ban-as ES, where 135 learners availed of dental services, including 31 extractions and 26 fillings. The feeding program reached 166 learners, and 125 received health assessments. Health lectures and hygiene activities were also delivered to Grades 4 to 6 learners by the regional and division teams.

In the succeeding two days, July 24–25, 2025, the regional team continued its commitment to school health advancement by conducting supportive monitoring visits in the Hinatuan District of Surigao del Sur Division. These visits were a celebration of good practices, reinforcing ongoing efforts, and providing technical assistance to further enhance the implementation of the six flagship programs under OKD (Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd). Rather than focusing on gaps, the engagement highlighted strengths and opportunities for growth, fostering a culture of collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement in delivering quality health and nutrition services to learners.

The 2025 Nutrition Month celebration highlighted the importance of promoting healthy eating practices and expanding access to essential health services, especially in underserved and geographically isolated communities. It reaffirmed DepEd Caraga’s strong commitment to holistic learner development and inclusive partnerships, ensuring the sustainability of school-based health and nutrition programs across the region.

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151, 0961-737-0873, or 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph.

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