MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, December 15 (PIA) --- The City Health Office has successfully conducted the First Marawi City Health Summit highlighting the importance of strong partnerships in improving the delivery of health services in the city.
The health summit held last December 13-14, 2011 at the Dynasty Court Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City was participated in by health workers, city government officials and heads of office, as well as barangay officials from the 96 barangays of the city.
Anchored on the theme “Forging Strong Partnership for Better Health Care in Marawi City,” the two-day summit featured various health practices, experiences and initiatives conducted in collaboration with the community, local government unit, service providers and private partners.
Gracing the summit was Dr. Kadil M. Sinolinding, Jr., regional secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), who announced that President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed the Php956 million health stimulus fund for the entire region in addition to the Php382 million given by DOH central office for health facility enhancement which includes both infrastructure and equipment.
He further announced that an additional 150 midwives will be deployed in the autonomous region under the Midwives in Every Community in ARMM (MECA) program aimed at reducing infant and maternal mortality rate by improving the delivery of health care services in far-flung communities where residents could hardly consult a physician.
Meanwhile, Fauzia Dimatingcal, chairperson of Barangay Lumbaca Madaya, shared the barangay’s experience in raising health awareness through community involvement.
Councilor Abdani Alonto, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Health, also bared the various initiatives of the local government to advance health service delivery in the city.
These included the enactment and revisions of policies, resolutions, and ordinances such as the organization of the Local Health Board, crafting of the comprehensive anti-smoking ordinance, ordinance prohibiting dispensing of anti-TB drugs without prescription, ordinance requiring barangay chairpersons to allot five percent of the barangays IRA for health services, and the creation of the Dansalan Tuberculosis (TB) Council.
On the other hand, Dr. Cabiba Macapaar, CHO chief technical officer, reported how the private partners and service providers have helped in improving the TB program of the CHO.
The summit ended with the recognition of the members of the Community Health Action Teams (CHAT) and awarding of prices to the winners of the Health Gallery Exhibit.
No comments