Quality health services to every Sarangan seen

By CHARITO ANSAGAY

DAVAO CITY (September 24, 2013) - For every 100 pregnant women registered for pre-natal check-up, only 34 have completed the four pre-natal visits. In 2010, there were 20 maternal deaths, 24 deaths in 2011, and decreased to 17 by 2012. 

However, the decline in number of fatalities is not enough to say that the target in the Millennium Development Goals has been nearly achieved. In the same year, there were 31 recorded newborn deaths daily and these came from poor and distant barangays in Sarangani. We do not want this to happen.

There were a lot of interventions, but the LGU health score card shows that there is still a need to push the local government units (LGUs) to take responsibilities to fight the gaps related to health.

This is why, the Provincial Health Office has initiated to tap the assistance given by the Zuellig Family Foundation, through its Health Leadership Management for the Poor Program, with the assistance from the United Nations Population Fund and the Department of Health Region 12. 

Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon led the team and actively joined discussions during the training workshop held in Davao on September 18-19.  Executive and legislative officials of the province, municipalities and barangays participated in the workshop.

Participants were taught that bridging leadership consists of ownership, co-ownership and co-creation. The bridging leader makes a personal response to the issue. That, the bridging leader convenes the stakeholders of the issue. Through a process of dialogue and engagement, the stakeholders arrive at a shared response.  With co-creation, now develops new institutional arrangements that are inclusive, accountable, transparent and ones that lead to more empowered citizens and more responsive institutions.        

“Matagal na kaming namumuno sa aming barangay, pero ang mga napakinggan ko ngayon sa training-workshop na ito ay bago sa akin, sa amin, kaya marami ang nabago sa aming pananaw bilang isang lider,” Delia Constantino, president of the Association of the Barangay Captains, said.

Governor Solon has always envisioned that every Sarangan shall have access to quality health services. “One way of doing this is to systematize the Universal Philhealth Program, which now has easier ways to cover every Sarangan,” the governor said.

Next, to upgrade the two district hospitals in Kiamba and in Glan, and eventually, the remaining three. These are now gradually being realized. In this way, constituents who need medical attention especially in the far-flung areas, including those in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat and Jose Abad Santos in Davao del Sur can immediately be delivered with quality services. (Charito Ansagay/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR’S OFFICE)