Ilocanos back DOH’s HI-5 strategies

ILOCOS Norte officials and other health care workers in the province sign the pledge of commitment in support of the national government's effort to achieve universal health care by June 2016. (Lei Adriano)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY—Ilocanos in this northern part of Luzon have expressed their commitment to the Department of Health’s (DOH) High Impact Five (HI-5) strategies to achieve universal health care by 2016.

Attended by hundreds of local and national officials, municipal, city health officers, doctors and heads of district hospitals, barangay health workers, and other partner agencies, a motorcade around the city capped the opening of HI-5 summit held at the Plaza del Norte in support of the national government’s universal healthcare program.

Given a 15-month period to address the gaps and challenges on health inequities, the DOH has called on the support of all concerned stakeholders particularly provincial healthcare workers to strengthen measures and utilize all ways and means to achieve the country’s Millennium Development Goals (MDG) target particularly on the five health thrusts of the government which include Maternal Care, Infant Care, Under Five, HIV/AIDS and the establishment of a Service Delivery Network.

Citing the best practices of the local chief executives health champions in Ilocos Norte such as the low class and small municipalities of Nueva Era, Adams, Carasi and Banna, DOH Regional Director Myrna Cabotaje lauded the performance of Ilocos Norte in achieving the Kalusugang Pangkalahatan or Universal Health Care.

Dr. Juan Antonio Perez of the Department of Health lauds Ilocos Norte's high score card in achieving a significant portion of the Millennium Development Goals target while he urged more health workers in the province to push for more initiatives to contribute a high impact at the national level. (Lei Adriano)

In his speech, Juan Antonio Perez who represented the Secretary of Health Janette Loreto-Garin said Ilocos Norte is already doing well in its MDG targets but there is a need to push for more initiatives and contribute to the national effort.

“Nasa 87 percent na ngayon ‘yung coverage ng Philippine population. That still leaves a number of people who are in the informal sector, I think, who are not yet a part of the health system. So, we have some more work to do but the resources are there from the local and national government to cover the entire population,” said Mr. Perez.

Mr. Perez is optimistic that by June 2016, every Filipino will be covered by the universal healthcare which will contribute to a significant portion of the MDG.

In 2000, Ilocos Norte has been acknowledged as the first province to have universal health care for the poor. As a result, the province received a grant from the European Union as inter-local health zones were formed to improve its health system.

“While we are doing well in child health, infant health and control of infectious diseases, we need to work harder on maternal health to achieve better goals including the prevention of teen-age pregnancy which is increasing in Ilocos Norte,” Mr. Perez added.