HEALTHCARE SERVICES. Regional Director Cesar Cassion (left) of the Department of Health-Caraga and Assistant Regional Director Sadaila Raki-in discuss programs and services to attain the objectives of the 8-Point Action Agenda of the agency during the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” briefing in Butuan City on Tuesday (July 2, 2024). Among the concerns prioritized are programs to increase awareness amid rising human immunodeficiency virus cases in the region. (Photo courtesy of PIA-13)
BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Health-Caraga (DOH-13) is intensifying the implementation of the 8-Point Action Agenda to address the region's pressing health concerns, including the increasing cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
“The agency continues to strengthen its awareness campaigns on HIV down to the grassroots level and promote testing for early detection of HIV,” DOH-13 Regional Director Cesar Cassion said during the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” briefing here on Tuesday.
DOH’s 8-Point Action Agenda is based on the principles of Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) to promote a high-quality healthcare system and enact programs to narrow the socio-economic divide that hinders access to quality and equitable healthcare.
As of November last year, DOH-13 recorded 340 confirmed HIV cases in the region, Cassion said.
Cassion said the figure represents a 41.4 percent increase compared to the 242 HIV cases recorded in 2022.
The region currently has five HIV testing centers -- Butuan Medical Center, Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, Democrito O. Plaza Memorial Hospital, Valentina Galido Plaza Memorial Hospital in Agusan del Sur, and the Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
“We are also boosting our networking activities, especially since groups and organizations are working to help the government fight against HIV,” Cassion said.
He noted that groups collaborating with the DOH-13 are actively participating in campaigns and educational efforts to raise awareness about HIV across the region.
Modern technology, efficient services
Meanwhile, 12 Super Health Centers (SHCs) have been established and are operational in the region.
On May 31, the Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center also inaugurated a BUCAS (Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services) Center.
As of June, DOH-13 has a workforce of 68 certified physicians, 618 registered nurses, 341 certified midwives, or 1,027 health workers to ensure the agency's action agenda is fully implemented.
DOH-13 also reported that PHP255.5 million worth of Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP) in 2023 benefiting 18,958 residents in the region.
In the first half of this year, 5,684 indigent patients in the region received PHP88.2 million in MAIP assistance. (PNA)
