Bontoc, Mountain Province-To further improve the delivery of health services to the constituents, a research study is being conducted that corresponds to the needs and actual conditions of the province.
Mountain Province is chosen as the research field for the on-going study, ‘‘Documenting Local Health Care Perspectives of Mountain Province’, which is being spearheaded by the Luke Foundation, Inc. (LF). Considering that it is geographically isolated and disadvantaged (GIDAS) based on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) categories, the proponents selected the place as the research field. Accordingly, the province is an appropriate site to contextualize the health-poverty situation in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Relative to this endeavor, the research is a medium in generating an alternative and enhanced health service delivery models for the indigenous people likewise, supporting the health development agenda of the region. At the same time, it will be a means in disseminating a wider understanding of health and health service delivery system in the province.
LF partnered with the University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio City, Benguet State University (BSU), Saint Louis University (SLU), Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) and Mountain Province as one body in supporting health care systems for the indigent. LF is a member of Cordillera Regional Health Research and Development Consortium (CRHRDC) and is a Baguio-based non-profit organization that seeks to cascade quality health services to the indigent of the marginalized areas as it major objective.
Composed of the abovementioned academic institutions, the research team will evaluate the health care currently implemented in the localities through the conduct of interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs) and other communication methods to engage the grassroots in a comprehensive communication with the researchers.
The target research areas were identified and clustered after a series of consultations held last month. These clusters were barangays from the different municipalities such as Dagdag and Tanulong of Sagada, Balili, Bontoc Ili and Samoki of Bontoc, Tunglayan of Natonin, Poblacion and Bananao of Paracelis, Cadad-anan of Tadian and Monamon Sur of Bauko.
After the community orientations and meetings with the stakeholders regarding the study, the field work started earlier this month in Sagada, the pilot research field. This was proceeded by another FGD in Samoki on October 26. The same activity will be conducted in the succeeding schedules for the other clusters.
Several factors that influence the health of the people in the area and the health services they avail were sought. These include customary health practices of the communities, compliance to medical treatments, cultural beliefs and lifestyle, among others.
In the discussions Marian C. Sanchez, member of the LF, indicated that how health and health delivery systems is defined by the people would reflect the challenges and opportunities in the access of the services.
She added that the community’s resources and knowledge on health promotion, disease prevention and treatment will be assessed to look into the possible areas of prior to improvements on the said field. Likewise, the queries and propositions of the participants, representing the grassroots’ request for the betterment of the current health systems, will be catered upon the conduct of the field work.
Also, the role and involvement of the community people comprised of the youth, elders, and local authorities coming from the provincial, municipal, and barangay level will be evaluated on how they contribute to the improvement of health services. Accordingly, all the concerns that will be raised from the grassroots will serve as basis for the study.
Further, Sanchez stressed that the collective participation of the communities will determine the pressing health issues in their places to come up with a framework that recognizes their needs. The framework will help fill-in the gaps overlooked by the governing health systems which should conform to the full realization of the communities’ health.
The Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) through the CRHRDC sponsored the project with a budget of PhP 50,000 for FGD, out of the total Php 500,000. Meanwhile, the provincial government, through the initiative of Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr., provided technical assistance to the research team and released an additional amount of Php 80, 440 to suffice the need of the field work.** Rose D. Dagupen, PIO-MP
