COTABATO CITY (PIA) — A healthier Bangsamoro in which everyone has equal access to health services—this is the ultimate vision of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Health Minister Kadil ‘Jojo’ Sinolinding Jr. mentioned during the sixth episode of the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Wednesday, July 3.
“Gusto natin na magkaroon ng healthier Bangsamoro na kung saan ang bawat nanay, tatay, anak, sanggol ay mayroong access sa lahat ng serbisyo na ating pinaparating saan man sila naroon at kung ano man ang kanilang estado sa buhay,” Sinolinding said.
(We want to have a healthier Bangsamoro where every mother, father, child, and baby has access to all the services we provide, wherever they are and whatever their socio-economic status.)
The BARMM Ministry of Health (MOH) will use its P6.6 billion budget this year to upgrade and expand medical facilities and vehicles, currently only with the following: 1,012 barangay health stations, 131 rural health units, 27 hospitals, eight mobile clinics, and one oxygen-generating plant producing 10-15 tanks; 157 units of ambulances; 24 cadaver transport vehicles; and 20 units of sea ambulances.
Sinolinding admitted there’s a lot more to do to improve BARMM’s health sector, but he assured that the MOH will not waiver its commitment to deliver health services to the masses.
“Mas lalo po nating palakasin ang ating presensiya at pagbibigay ng services sa ating mga kababayan lalong-lalo na sa malalayo at mga liblib na lugar. Puntahan po natin sila kung hindi sila makakarating sa atin, ibigay po natin sa kanila ang services na matagal na nilang hinahangad at inaasahan, iparamdam natin sa kanila na tayo po ay handang maglingkod,” he added.
(We will strengthen our presence and provide services to our countrymen, especially in remote areas. We will reach them out if they are not capable of going [to the hospitals]. Let’s give them the services they’ve longed for; let’s make them feel that we are ready to serve them.) (SJDM – PIA Region 12)