Department of Health-Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD) Regional Director Rio L. Magpantay (8L) and Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco (9L) jointly lead the launching of the PuroKalusugan primary care initiative in the City of Navotas. (Photo Courtesy of NAVOTAS PIO)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) launched the first “PuroKalusugan” in Navotas City, a community-based program aimed at ensuring every Filipino has access to primary health care services wherever they are in the country.
The “PuroKalusugan” is a coined term for “Purok” and “Kalusugan” which literally means “health district,” translating the initiative of bringing healthcare directly to communities in every district.
It seeks to provide residents in communities with comprehensive access to primary healthcare services including child and adolescent health services, maternal health services, adult and elderly health services, immunization, safe water and sanitation, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) screening, and other prevention and control programs for non-communicable diseases.
This program is central to the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) project “Ang Kalusugan ay Abot sa bawat Pamilya – Metro Manila, Oras Na!” or AKAP-MMO which highlights the important role of families in advancing healthcare reforms.
In line with this, the “PuroKalusugan” also empower communities with health literacy through the provision of lecture series aside from healthcare services. These go hand in hand with the capacity building for barangay leaders to improve their health leadership and management skills towards a more effective implementation of local health programs among their constituents.
DOH Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD) Regional Director Rio L. Magpantay stressed the pivotal significance of strengthening local health systems to engage communities in making informed healthcare decisions for better public health outcomes.
“Lahat tayo ay maaaring iba’t iba ang maibigay subalit iisa ang layunin natin– maramdaman ang kalusugan. Itaguyod natin ang ating serbisyo para maiangat ang antas ng kalusugan ng bawat isa po sa atin,” said Magpantay.
(All of us can contribute differently, but our goal remains one–to make sure health is felt. Let us further improve our service to uplift the state of everyone’s health.)
Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco meanwhile expressed the commitment of the local government in establishing healthier communities through the PuroKalusugan primary care initiative.
“This program is a testament to our shared vision of making healthcare accessible to every Navoteño. By bringing these services directly to our barangays, we are not only addressing immediate health needs but also empowering our residents to take charge of their well-being,” said the local chief executive.
PuroKalusugan forms part of the 8-Point Action Agenda of the DOH which is geared towards putting Filipinos at the heart of the country’s healthcare reforms by strengthening community health. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
