In celebration of Health Workers Week, Lipa Medix Medical Center (LMMC) in partnership with the Infection Prevention and Control Unit (IPCU), Department of Internal Medicine, and Department of Pediatrics, kicked off its World Health Workers Week Health Forum at MAB Auditorium, April 20, 2026.
Attended by 100 Barangay Health Workers (BHW) coming from various barangays in Lipa City, welcomed by the Medical Director, Dr. Jose Rene De Grano, the event highlighted different health topics focusing on obesity, immunization, and breastfeeding, stirring awareness among BHWs.
Present at the event is Dr. Antonio Faltado Jr., who anchored his talk to obesity awareness. He underscored the importance of regular health monitoring and proper management in detecting and addressing obesity.
Meanwhile, Dr. Reina Mendoza emphasized the importance of immunization, stressing the significance of getting vaccines to prevent infections and their complications.
Highlighting the importance of breastfeeding, Dr. Lara Rellora – Pandaraoan demonstrated different ways of breastfeeding and its health benefits to infants.
For BHWs, this event helped them to expand their knowledge and awareness.
“Yung kaunting kaalaman ko, mas nagdagdagan pa siya,” a BHW from Brgy. Pinagkawitan said.
“Mas mabibigyan natin ng importansiya ang ating kalusugan at mas makakatulong sa mga [baguhang BHW] dahil marami silang malalaman,” she said about how this forum helped her as a BHW.
Moreover, Dr. Lara Rellora – Pandaraoan emphasized the role of hospitals like LMMC in celebrating the community’s health workers.
“Ang Lipa Medix Medical Center is known for having specialists. So siyempre, in the community, wala naman silang access minsan sa mga espesyalista, so this is the opportunity para magkaroon at mag-gain sila ng extra knowledge through these programs. Yung may mga lectures…para mas ma-strengthen pa yung mga knowledge ng mga barangay health workers natin para mas matulungan pa nila yung community,” she said.
Pandaraoan also said that this kind of forum helps the BHW to keep updated on various health concerns.
“[Updated sila regarding] sa mga management ng mga bagong sakit. Kanina, yung mga na-mention na mga immunization, sa obesity, also [updated] din sila regarding breastfeeding.”
She also said that celebrating World Health Workers Week spotlights our local BHW, encouraging them to uplift their roles as healthcare allies.
LMMC plans to expand its reach throughout Lipa City, aiming to provide innovative, quality healthcare and wellness services in Region IV.
