NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur (PIA) – The Department of Health Bicol Center for Health Development (DOH Bicol CHD) is working to enhance the well-being of Bicolanos to make them one of the healthiest populations in Asia by 2040.
DOH Bicol CHD Regional Director Rodolfo Antonio Albornoz shared this vision during the 6th Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on July 2 at the Bicol Medical Center Auditorium.
Albornoz said the eight-point national health agenda supports the vision, aiming to provide every Bicolano with access to quality medical services, and focusing on universal health care in Bicol.
The eight priority health outcomes include combating tuberculosis, HIV, immunization, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), road safety, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, nutrition, and maternal health.
“Through a strong partnership with various clusters in the Local Health Support Division, we aim to provide services to address these eight priority health outcomes.,” he said.
In a report by Albornoz, a 92 percent treatment success rate was achieved out of 7,008 drug-sensitive tuberculosis cases in the region. At least 140 of 169 drug-resistant TB patients were successfully treated.
“A mobile van clinic donated by the Philippine Business for Social Progress conducts regular visits to different communities in the region to provide x-ray services for the early detection of TB among Bicolanos,” Albornoz said.
The Bicol Center for Health Development has officially launched the Bicol South Luzon Sub-National Reference Laboratory as the region’s first Pertussis Confirmatory Testing Site.
It has been certified by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. Early detection means early prevention of the DOH Bicol CHD.
Furthermore, the DOH Bicol CHD will be establishing three treatment hubs in the region for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). These hubs will be located in the following hospitals: Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital, Eastern Bicol Medical Center in Catanduanes, and Sorsogon Provincial Hospital.
On June 5, the Bicol Region General Hospital and Geriatric Medical Center (BRGHGMC) was approved as the fourth accredited HIV Treatment Hub in Bicol.
Aligned with the national health directive, the regional director stated that continuous promotion of HIV testing and screenings is being conducted in communities to fight stigma and increase public awareness.
To decrease maternal mortality this year to 120 per 100,000 live births, the department aims to empower communities with proper family planning and basic emergency management obstetric and newborn care skills.
The implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law will also be reinforced to prevent maternal deaths.
The prevalence of stunting among Bicolanos has been recorded at 10.5 percent for children five years old and younger. In 2024, the DOH Bicol CHD aims to decrease the cases to nine percent.
“This will be accomplished through boosting health and nutrition services among schools and households, and training health workers and nutrition coordinators in health offices among localities.”
A total of P159,215,488 has been released as the first tranche of fund allocation by the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) in Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon to support programs and activities in line with their respective Municipal Nutrition Action Plans.
Arlene Reario, National Nutrition Council’s program coordinator for Bicol, stated that the council aims to enhance its training and technical management support activities for local government units (LGUs) in creating nutrition plans.
Additionally, they seek to improve the PMNP information system support packages and assessments.
Meanwhile, the DOH Bicol CHD aims to increase cancer screenings, diagnosis, and treatments in the region by 50 percent to improve service delivery mechanisms and work towards eliminating cancer.
“Of the P4.6-million budget provided for the cancer program, training for treatment and screenings among health workers and the wider promotional campaigns would be the focus.”
WASH: Albornoz said that 54 percent, or 758,362 households, have access to basic safe water supplies. Additionally, 31 percent or 431,563 households, can safely manage drinking water services.
Albornoz emphasized the need for further studies and immediate actions to improve the current status and to provide more Bicolanos with safe and potable water in their homes to prevent diseases.
Universal Health Care Act: Albornoz highlighted the department’s focus on in-house and informal training for health workers, local scholarships for medical students, and the provision of additional manpower for human resources, doctors to the barrio, and deployment to far-flung areas in Bicol.
Furthermore, over P2 billion has been allocated to upgrade 74 health facilities to LGU hospitals, rural health units, super health centers, and barangay health stations.
Albornoz also mentioned the upcoming completion of land-type ambulance provision for the six provinces.
First Corneal Transplant: In a video, Digno Mostar, along with his wife, expressed their gratitude for being the first-ever beneficiary patient of the first corneal transplant conducted in BRGHGMC. The operation was fast and successful.
Karen Fuenteveros of Balatan, Camarines Sur, a mother of a neonatal care recipient, said that BMC gave them hope for their baby to survive and be healthy.
She considered it a miracle from God that their baby boy regained his life after 20 years of marriage.
Grace Escarlan, the wife of the first patient who underwent a broncho-related operation outside of Manila, expressed gratitude to the “competent and reliable” doctors and nurses of BRHMC for being instruments of God in answering their prayers and extending her husband’s life.
Ways forward
Albonorz mentioned that the DOH Bicol CHD is committed to establishing medical specialty centers at the BMC and BRHMC, including Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service Center, Bicol Cancer Center Radiation Oncology Unit and Bronchology Unit, a 20-story Integrated Specialty Care Center, and a 10-story Wellness Hub.
Additionally, the Bicol Regional Quarantine Station in Tabaco City, under the Bureau of Quarantine, is expected to be finished before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term ends.
The bed capacity in BMC will be increased from 1000 to 1500 as per House Bill 10311 of Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr., and the BRHMC from 250 beds to 450 capacities.
“Lahat ng ito ay magagawa natin sa tulong ng whole-of-government at whole-of-society approach kung saan kayong mga partners namin at komunidad ay may malaking parte upang mas mapalaganap ang Serbisyong Salud Bikolnon. Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Buhay Mahalaga,” Albornoz concluded.
(We can do all this with the help of a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach where you, our partners, and the community, have a big part in spreading the Bikolnon Health Service. For the New Philippines, Every Life Matters.) (PIA5)
Cover photo:
A teenager receives free cervical cancer screening during the regional launching of cervical cancer screening services of the DOH Bicol CHD on May 22, 2024, at the Dr. Lorenzo P. Ziga Memorial District Hospital Covered Court, Tabaco City. (Photo credit: DOH Bicol CHD)
