BAGUIO CITY – – The Department of Health calls for a continuing partnership with Cordillera local government units and other key stakeholders in ensuring the delivery of health programs and services in the region especially those in geographically- isolated and depressed areas.
DOH Assistant Secretary Maria Francia Laxamana made the appeal during the “Gawad Kalusugan” program last November 16 at Baguio Country Club, here. These LGUs and other partners, she said, play very important roles in ensuring the delivery of the needed health programs and services to the people.
No matter how good the health system that is in place, it needs strong commitment and participation of everyone especially the local chief executives, LGUs and key stakeholders in the implementation of the health programs/services in the communities, she stressed.
To highlight the importance of partnership, DOH – Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) gives recognition to the outstanding LGU partners and key stakeholders in health in the region during the annual Gawad Kalusugan.
Recognized are LGUs with most Functional Service Delivery Network, Best Performing Barangay Health Workers Federation, Best Performing TB DOTS Facilities, Best Performing Epidemiology Surveillance Units, Best in Rabies Prevention And Control Unit, top Performing Animal Bite Treatment Centers, Best LGUs in terms of Integrated Vector Management, Best Performing Newborn Screening Facility, Best Compliance to the National Immunization Program and Malaria- free provinces.
Purple Ribbon Award, Dugong Bayani award, Red Orchid award are also bestowed to the winning LGUs.
Other government institutions and private health facilities are included in some of the award categories.
For this year, provincial/city/municipal LGUs whose response teams performed well during typhoons Ompong and Rosita were also given recognition.
DOH – CAR OIC Regional Director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan also pointed out the importance of partnerships with and among LGUs and other key stakeholders as they translate national health policies into action and bring the national and regional health programs to their respective localities.
“It is by working together to provide quality health services that we are able to respond to the needs of our fellow Cordillerans”, Pangilinan said.
Meanwhile, Laxamana explained that DOH’s goal of attaining universal health coverage generally aims to ensure that all Filipinos will have access to all the possible health services they need without having to rick financial hardship to pay for these.
Towards Universal Health Coverage, DOH is currently adopting the Fourmula 1 Plus framework, whose strategic pillars include sustainable financing, coordinated service delivery, efficient regulatory, transparent governance, and accountable actions or performance accountability. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
