The appointment of Dr. Ma. Girlie Pinongan as officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) will help strengthen preventive measures against prevalent ailments to ensure that fewer Negrenses end up in hospitals, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, March 28.
Pinongan, Hospital Operations Department head, will serve as OIC of the PHO in a concurrent capacity.
Diaz said Pinongan is knowledgeable in public health and has extensive experience in hospital management.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson designated Pinongan OIC of the PHO starting April 3 on the request of Dr. Ernell Tumimbang for a transition team to be oriented of the different programs and health activities of the PHO.
Tumimbang is set to retire as PHO head in June.
The transition team will be tasked to also further improve the public health services of the province, Diaz said.
He also cited the provincial government’s feeding program designed to reduce malnutrition, stunting and wasting among children.
Ensuring that children grow up healthy will prevent future health problems when they become adults, he said.*