1.      Health;

The Municipality of Polanco has eleven barangay health stations.  The coverage area for every health station is two or three barangays.

Health Statistics
Municipality of Polanco
2003

            Total number of Barangays                                                30
           Health Facilities (2003)
            Number of Barangay Health Service                               11
            Health Manpower by Category (2003)
                        Municipal Health Officer                                         1
                        Number of Rural Health Nurses                             2
                       Number of Sanitary Inspectors                              2
                        Number of Midwives                                              12
                        Laboratory Technicians                                            1
            Health Status (2003)
                        Crude Birth Rate (CBR)                                           14.62  
                        Crude Death Rate (CDR)                                         2.38
                        Infant Mortality Rate           (IMR)                                        7.32
                        Mother Mortality Rate (MMR)                               None

            Leading Causes of Morbidity:
                                                                                  Number                         Rate
      URTI (ARI)                                                       2,211                           5,923.96
      Influenza                                                         1,335                           3,576.88
      Anemia                                                            986                           2,641.80
       Injuries                                                             687                           1,840.68
       Pneumonia                                                      558                           1,495.05
       Other Nutritional Disease                                564                           1,511.13
       Peptic Ulcer                                                     427                           1,144.06
       Skin Problem                                                   383                           1,026.17
       Diarrhea                                                           302                              809.15
       Muskolo-Skeletal Disorder                               214                                573.37

            Leading Causes of Mortality:
                                                                                           Number                       Rate
            1.  Disease of the Circulatory System                     25                               66.98
            2.  Disease of the Respiratory System                    18                                48.22
            3.  Certain Infectious Parastic Disease                 12                                 32.15
            4.  Accident                                                              9                               24.11
            5.  Disease of the Digestive System                      8                                   21.43
            6.  Neoplasm                                                             7                               18.75
            7.  Disease of the Skeletal Connective Tissue     3                                     8.03
            8.  Disease of the Genito-Urinary System             2                                   5.35
            9.  Pregnant/Child, Birth/ at the Puerperium      2                                    5.35
            10. Disease of the Blood                                         2                                 5.35

            Leading Causes of the Infant Mortality:
                                                                                         Number                           Rate
           1.      Disease of the Respiratory System                       1                             1.83
           2.      Pregnancy Child Birth/at the Puerperium            2                             3.66
           3.      Condition Originating on Parental Period           1                             1.83  
 

            Leading Causes of Maternity Mortality:
                        None

            3.  Nutritional Status (2003):
                        (Whole Polanco-Consolidated)

                                                                                          Number                           Rate   
                        1.  Above Normal                                        34                                0.76
           2.  Normal                                                               3,935                            88.35  
            3.  Below Normal                                                      440                              9.88
            4.  Very Low Normal                                                 45                                1.01

An estimated number of 5,890 pre-school children under seven years old in 2003.  But a total of 4,454 or 76% were actually weighed during the “Opetation Timbang” conducted by the RHU in the 30 barangays of this municipality.  The average malnutrition rate was 10.89%.

Based on the results of the 2003 Operation Timbang, 45 (1.01) were very normal; 440(9.88) below normal.  While 34(0.76) are classified as above normal and 3,935(88.35) are within the normal range.

Of the thirty- (30) barangays; Linabo registered the highest malnutrition rate with 32.50%, followed by barangay New Sicayab with 28.27%, and third is Bandera with 24.08%.  While the barangays with low malnutrition rate were Sto. Niño 1.54%, Magangon 3.22% and Lingasad with 3.28%.

The RHU programs in nutrition include breastfeeding.  Vitamin A and Iron Supplementation, complementary and supplementary feeding and “Nutrition-Friendly Home” activities that is maintained by the private sector (NGO) and the government sector (LGU) in partnership.  While the Department of Agriculture is very active if food production and in partnership with the Department of Education aggressively promotes backyard gardening in every household.  There are 11 nutrition centers with 29 nutrition workers.

The local DSWD office is likewise active in various projects such as day care services, supplemental feeding, as well as maternal and child health care.
Source: MHO, Polanco, Zambo. Norte