ThyroMobile Medical Mission Launch in Pangasinan

The ThyroMobile Medical Mission Launch in Dagupan City, Pangasinan is an auspicious event as it marks the very first official journey of ThyroMobile, a moving laboratory to enhance thyroid health delivery to vulnerable communities afflicted by Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD). Pangasinan is one of the Top 15 Provinces identified by the DOST-Food & Nutrition Research Institute from previous national surveys to have IDD among women of reproductive age, especially the pregnant & lactating mothers.

The launching was held on April 11, 2023 participated in by the ThyroMobile proponents; namely, the Iodine Global Network (IGN), Philippine Thyroid Association (PTA), Thyroid Federation International (TFI), Rotary Club of University District Manila (RCUDM), Merck, Inc, and Salinas Foods, Inc in cooperation with the Pangasinan Medical Society and the Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Memorial Hospital (DDVMH)

The first part of the program launch consisted of the capacity-building activity to increase awareness of the audience in the early recognition of thyroid disorders. The Country Representative of Iodine Global Network and the coordinator of ThyroMobile Philippines, Dr Teofilo San Luis Jr, provided the overview through his presentation on the importance of iodine especially during pregnancy & lactation. He explained the different diagnostic services offered by the ThyroMobile.  Dr. Marilyn Katrina Castro-Caro discussed the “Screening and Diagnosis of Thyroid Disoders” while Dr. Nenuel Angelo Luna spoke on “Goiter and Pregnancy”. Gracing the occasion was Dr. Mario Castro, President of the Pangasinan Medical Society, Dr. Vivencio Jose

Villaflor, Jr, the President of DDVMH together with his wife Dra. Gregoria Villaflor.  

The main part of the event was the thyroid screening of the target participants through neck palpation, followed by blood testing for TSH using point-of-care machine, and urine collection for urinary iodine concentration (UIC). Those with palpable thyroid nodules underwent thyroid ultrasound at the DDVMH ultrasonography facility. Finally, salt samples brought by the participants were quantitatively tested for their iodine content using the WYD Iodine Checker technology.

The event was covered by media through the courtesy of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) and other local radio stations. Distributed to the participants were various infographic materials on the value of iodine to increase intelligence especially among infants & children, and the Thyromobile brochure detailing its services and the extent of IDD situation in the 15 provinces.