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JOSE FABELLA
Term : January 1941 - 1945
He was the first Secretary and Executive Officer of the Public Welfare Board from 1914 - 1921 and was the Public Welfare Commissioner before he became the first Secretary of Health and Public Welfare in 1941. He was regarded as the foremost exponent of maternity and child health as well as social work in the country during his time. As Public Welfare Commissioner, he started the coordination and regulations of various welfare services including the operation of puericulture centers. In 1922, he opened a school of midwifery, which is the forerunner of the Maternity and Children s Hospital in Manila, now called the Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital. In 1925, he laid the plan for the development of the children s village and now known as Welfareville. Child health surveys and studies on the common Filipino diet were conducted under his leadership. This facilitate the preparation of standard height and weight chart for the Filipino children. He started the Child Health Day and Healthy Baby Contest and Clean-up Week. His administration as Secretary of Health and Public Welfare was abruptly interrupted because of illness. He spent a life of retirement in his home. He died on January 16, 1945.
He was a private practitioner in Radiology before his appointment as Secretary of Health. His wife was a daughter of former President Osmea. He championed the cause of tribal minorities and launched Operation Tribal Minorities believing that those who have more should help those who have less in life . His project tried to bring the benefits of modern medicine to tribal groups and rural areas. Secretary Valencia visited various tribal communities in isolated villages distributing medicines, food, soap and clothing.