Department of Health-Eastern Visayas Center for Health and Development (DOH-EVCHD) Regional Director and Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) VIII Chairperson, Dr. Minerva Perigrino-Molon retires after a stellar career in public service effective 1 November 2020.

Under her leadership, she provided the direction and response of the prime government agency on health in Eastern Visayas as it faced numerous challenges through the years such as Typhoons Yolanda and Nona, rehabilitation and expansion of health facilities towards Universal Healthcare, diarrhea and dengue outbreaks, and most recently the threat of COVID-19. Through all these challenges, she remained proactive, tactful, calm, and in command.

According to her, “By being proactive, is managing situations by making things happen by preparing for possible future scenario. Being a steward, DOH-RO VIII is an organization that supervises health. As a leader, it guides the organization that provide directions through policy, regulations, and programs/projects technical expertise. It is committed to deliver quality healthcare.”

Director Molon’s approach towards delivering the promise of quality healthcare covers its three dimensions: First, is the Physical Accessibility as this is understood as the availability of good health services within reasonable reach. Second, is Financial Affordability as this is a measure of people’s ability to pay services without financial hardship. Third, is Acceptability and Culture Friendly as this capture people’s willingness to seek services with no excuse.

In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, her resolve and leadership manifested with the actions she took to address the rising number of infections in the region by implementing the policies laid out by National Interagency Task Force (NIATF) and complementing the efforts of regional line agencies and local government units as well as providing recommendations in improving the overall COVID-19 response in the region. Among these were the establishment of a COVID-19 regional testing center, setting-up COVID-19 isolation facilities, and building of sleeping quarters for hospital frontliners near or within the hospital compound. Her daily briefing and constant presence provided a sense of assurance and security that DOH EVCHD is on top of the situation amidst a temporary increase of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers.

Under her watch, the relocation and increase in bed capacity of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center came into fruition as well as the expansion of the Schistosomiasis Hospital. The people of Eastern Visayas continued to enjoy the “Avail All” coverage of PhilHealth to areas affected by fortuitous events like Typhoon Yolanda for three years, thanks to the timely presentation of RD Molon that led to the passage of a Regional Development Council Resolution asking PhilHealth for its extension until December 31, 2016. She was also behind the timely and appropriate deployment of composite disaster response teams sent to Zamboanga, Bohol and five teams to Tacloban City and Leyte in 2013. She also facilitated the passage of RDC resolutions for endorsing to LGUs to support health program implementation MNCHN, Red Orchid Award, and “Kilos KontraBulate” since 2012.

As the then Assistant Regional Director of DOH EVCHD, she supported and strongly collaborated with LGU partners resulting to: Declaration of Region 8 as Malaria Free in 2010, CHD-EV as Red Orchids Awardee twice, Region 8 as Filariasis Free in 2015 and Limasawa Island as Rabies Free (2012) among others. She was the Prime Mover in the establishment of the Eastern Visayas Drug Rehabilitation Center (Salag Facility) in 2004 and the establishment of the Acute Crisis Interventions Services for the Mentally Ill at the Schistosomiasis Hospital in 2001.

Dr. Molon convened the RNC for the last time as its Chairperson on October 6, 2020 and on October 28, 2020 on a blended approach due to COVID-19 restriction. This year, out of the eight resolutions that were passed and adopted, two important COVID-19 related policies were approved to include the Adoption of the Nutrition Cluster Guidelines on Local Government Unit Nutrition Actions Relative to COVID-19 and the Adoption of the Nutrition Cluster Advisory No. 2 on Cluster Recommendations on Healthful and Nutritious Family Food Packs and Sustainable Food Sources. These two Nutrition Cluster Advisories which were released on 23 March 2020 and on 28 April 2020 respectively are important guidelines and recommendations for the local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), business companies, and other civic-oriented organizations providing nutrition services to all COVID19-affected populations.

RD Melba, as she was known to her peers made her mark on the health and nutrition of Eastern Visayas. Before she assumed as RNC 8 Chair, she served as Officer-in-Charge Nutrition Program Coordinator from August 2013 to May 2015 in CARAGA Region. The Eastern Visayas Regional Nutrition Committee, from 2017 until this year, passed a total of 26 resolutions that addresses policy and program implementation of various nutrition interventions that yield positive results and the cooperation of various stakeholders in the government and civil society towards the attainment of PPAN 2017-2022 and Region VIII becoming the home of the healthiest Filipinos. As a woman leader, she is an inspiration to those who would like to assume leadership roles in the health department. #LCVLauzon #NASLabordo