DILG orientation tackles universal health care program

Sunday 1st of July 2012

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, July 1(PIA) --The office of the Department of Interior and Local Government Office (DILG) here has hosted an orientation for community health team that discussed the universal health care (UHC) program espoused by Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III known as “Kalusugang Pangkalahatan” (KP).

Dr. Resty Magpantay, speaker from the Center for Health and Development (CHD) 4A of the Department of Health (DoH) emphasized during the orientation that under KP, the poor and marginalized citizenry are given priority in the delivery of health care services.

Also discussed were the problems facing the community with regards to the faster access to health care, quality services, mortality rate statistics in the Philippines, comparison in percentage between the rich and poor in terms of the access in facilities, prenatal check up, live births every year, mortality rates of children, health services for kids, use of modern way of family planning and those with health insurance.

According to Dr. Magpantay, the solution to these problems mentioned is the KP under three strategies. These are: improve the financial risk protection through Philihealth or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps); upgrading of health facilities for inpatient and outpatient; and attainment of the Millenium Development Goals (MDG) in provision of health care.

The orientation attended by barangay chairmen, barangay councilors, city councilors and DILG personnel aims to familiarize the participants on the government’s campaign to achieve the MDG targets and orient them on their roles, functions and monitoring the sustainability of the program. (Grace Bondad-Nicolas, PIA4A)