Islamic City of Marawi (9 September) -- The health care services is now accessible to folks in far-flung barangays through the Community Health Action Team (CHAT).
With the technical assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under its Sustainable Health Improvements through Empowerment and Local Development (SHIELD) project, the communities were mobilized to take active involvement in responding to the health needs of the people through the organization of the 30 CHAT in the city, said City Health Officer Dr. Faisal Idris.
According to Idris, CHATs are composed of community volunteers who promote preventive health services, health education and assist clinic staff.
He said 210 CHAT members have been oriented on the different health programs of the City Health Office.
They were also trained on small group discussions to orient community members on basic health topics such as immunization, vitamin supplementation, breastfeeding and family planning as well as basic health procedures such as blood pressure measurement, thermometer reading and growth monitoring, he added.
The city health officer said eight (8) of the 30 CHAT in the city have constructed Health and Nutrition Posts (HNPs) in collaboration with barangay chairmen and the community to respond to the lack of health facilities in far-flung barangays.
The HNPs serve as an alternate health center in providing basic health care services, Idris further said.
Yesterday, one of HNPs which is expected to benefit about 800 constituents was inaugurated in Barangay Mipantao-Gadungan.
Barangay Mipantao-Gadungan is three kilometers away from the nearest barangay health station.
The inauguration was graced by the US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie Bassett and Deputy Mission Director Elzadia Washington.
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