ThyroMobile Medical Mission Soft Launching in Occidental Mindoro

The concept and operationalization of ThyroMobile became a reality with its soft launching in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro in celebration of Goiter Awareness Week in January 2023 with a theme of “Leeg Kapain, Goiter Sugpuin: Isip ay Patalinuhin, Iodized Salt ay Gamitin”.  The launching coincided with the start of the 3-day Thyroid Surgical Mission on some 23 patients with goiter conducted under Rotary District 3810 by physicians from the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod of UP Manila.

The ThyroMobile seeks to enhance thyroid health care delivery system in vulnerable communities and was made possible by Salinas Foods Inc. together with Iodine Global Network (IGN), the Philippine Thyroid Association (PTA), Thyroid Federation International (TFI), the Rotary Club of University District Manila (RCUDM), and Merck, Inc.

The launching ceremony was held on January 23, 2023, graced by Director Mario S. Baquilod – DOH-CHD of MiMaRoPa, Dr. Teofilo San Luis, Jr – National Coordinator, Iodine Global Network (IGN) and Dr. Maria Teresa Tan – Provincial Health Officer of Occidental Mindoro.

The ThyroMobile visited four areas in Occidental Mindoro particularly, Mamburao, Abra de Ilog, Sablayan and San Jose and conducted the testing of household salts for adequacy of iodization using the WYD Iodine Checker for its quantitative analysis.

The week-long GAW ended with a Salt Colloquium attended by key personalities from the salt industry like Felix DV Bernales – Chairman, TAMACO, Mr. Gerard Khongun – President, PhilASIN and Mr. Arnold Duque – Vice President, PhilASIN.                

ThyroMobile is set to visit this year 15 target provinces identified by the Food & Nutrition Research Institute with high prevalence of IDD among pregnant & lactating women.