AID TO LGUs. Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) Regional Director Dr. Ferdinand Benbenen (4th from left) turns over medical supplies and equipment like cardiac monitor units to Apayao Governor Elias Bulut Jr. (front row, middle) in a simple activity at the Apayao Provincial Capitol in Luna, Apayao on Thursday (July 18, 2024). At least 127,000 residents of the province are expected to benefit from the services and supplies that continue to be provided by the DOH. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)
LUNA, Apayao – The Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) on Thursday distributed several medical supplies and equipment that will benefit about 127,000 residents of this province.
“We just turned over from DOH-CAR some cardiac monitor to monitor the heart for those with heart problems, fluids because it is dengue time and patients need a lot of fluids, and insecticides to do away with dengue-causing mosquitoes,” Dr. Ferdinand Benbenen, DOH-CAR regional director, said in an interview on the sidelines of the turnover activity here.
He said that while the Regional Health Units (RHUs), the Provincial Health Offices (PHOs) and the Municipal Health Offices (MHOs) are managed and operated by local governments, they remain to be partners for the public’s health, thus the need to support them to ensure that people’s health is well taken cared of.
The medical supplies were provided as part of the access to health program of the department, a continuing program of the government, especially with the full implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law aimed to ensure that health and medical services and facilities are accessible to people.
Benbenen said the DOH is also set to open at least two Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) centers in Apayao.
“We visited three sites today to assess the best location that will better serve the purpose for their opening,” he said.
Charlene Tagabing, Development Management Officer V and the Provincial DOH officer in Apayao, said there are 60 DOH-paid nurses, 25 midwives, seven pharmacists, eight doctors to the barrio, medical technologists and physical therapists deployed in all the municipalities.
She said all RHUs in the seven municipalities in the province have obtained a primary care facility license, which ensures that the people will receive quality service with quality equipment and supplies.
Tagabing added all the seven RHUs are also licensed to provide e-Konsulta (e-consult) services.
“Apayao is very compliant to the licensing and regulation requirements of the DOH especially with local officials and the governor who are very supportive to health programs, making their health services more efficient,” she said.
Tagabing said the DOH and LGUs aid each other in ensuring that medical service reaches the 48 geographically isolated and depressed areas (GIDA) in the province.
“We always consider the GIDA barangays (villages), that they get most of the assistance. The DOH’s policy is now equity, more help to those who need it most,” she added.
Governor Elias Bulut Jr., who is also the chairman of the Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC), in a separate interview, said the equipment given by the DOH is a big help for the hospitals in the province.
He said they have another 10-year health plan that started in 2023 where they identified as among the priorities the need to provide the requirements of Apayao health care providers.
“We are thankful that the director is visiting us. He used to be the chief of hospital in Mountain Province and he knows the problems of hospitals. I challenged them to prioritize provinces needing help for facilities and doctors,” he said. (PNA)
