DOH strengthens inter-local health zones in Abra

By Maria Teresa B. Benas

Tuesday 7th of August 2012

BANGUED, Abra, Aug. 7 (PIA) -- The Inter-local Health Zones (ILHZ) in Abra recently conducted the first in the series of trainings to strengthen local health system for the effective delivery of maternal and child health services .

The training, conducted July 31 to August 3 here, was facilitated by the Department of Health-Center for Health Development – Cordillera Region (DOH-CHD-CAR), in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the System Science Consultants, Inc. (SSC) and the Benguet local government unit.

The training module aims to standardize the capability building efforts of the CHD-CAR and guide health providers in realizing the basics in inter-local health zone development.

The inter-local health zones of Benguet and other CAR provinces, as well as from other regions, were invited to share their experiences during the four-day training.

Dr. Godofredo Gasa, Abra's provincial health officer, discussed the Millennium Development Goals as the basis of the project formulation and implementation of the ILTZ.

An ILHZ, "is a clustering of contiguous local government units with a core referral hospital wherein preventive primary public health care is integrated with hospital care." It looks at results,outcomes, benefits of inter-LGU coordination in health operations within the ILHZ.

The training modules likewise covered a lot of other topics to guide health providers in the operation of the ILHZs such as the national health insurance program and the common health trust fund which are needed to run the health units.

The technical aspect such as drug management and the integration of the maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition at the ILHZs have to be equally attended to because the operation of the ILHZs will be closely monitored and supervised later as these are necessary in the licensing of the health facilities, the speakers explained.

The participants came up with their action plans to sustain what had been started and eventually commence the operation of the ILHZs in Abra.(JDP/MTBB-PIA CAR, Abra)