DOH rallies Maguindanao to implement primary care

FOLLOWING REPORTS of increases in Food and Water-borne Disease (FWBD) cases, and in line with the recent activation of the Inter-Agency Committee on Environment Health (IACEH), the Department of Health (DOH) Officer-in-Charge Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire met with local chief executives from the provincial government of Maguindanao to help alleviate and address the effects of severe tropical storm Paeng and other health concerns.

During the discussions, Maguindanao Governor Mariam Mangudadatu showcased local efforts to advance primary care through the provision of outreach primary care services using mobile facilities. 

On the other hand, Vergeire pledged her support to provide medicines and other commodities to aid typhoon relief and service provision efforts, as well as technical assistance for various Universal Health Care initiatives, such as the creation of health care provider networks for the province.

“Alam natin na 80% ng mga sanhi ng sakit ay hindi nakadepende sa kalidad ng serbisyong pangkalusugan, kundi nakadepende sa kapaligiran ng bawat isa sa atin. Kaya sa pamamagitan ng primary care na naka-focus sa health promotion, ating tinutugunan ang mga environmental factors na ito–o kung tawagin natin ay social determinants of health–upang masiguro na ang ating mga mamamayan ay magkakaroon ng maayos na health outcomes,” Vergeire said.

She said the DOH continues to address social determinants of health, which are the underlying causes of different diseases being experienced by Filipinos, including FWBDs. 

“We recently activated the IACEH to discuss how we can all join efforts in preventing increases in cases of food and waterborne diseases across the country. Alam din natin na malaking factor talaga ang environment kung bakit nagkakasakit ang mga kababayan natin, at lalo silang nagiging vulnerable sa mga sakit na ito tuwing dumadaan ang mga bagyo. Kaya kasalukuyan na tayong nagsasagawa ng vulnerability assessment sa iba't ibang rehiyon upang masiguro na anumang sakuna ang dumaan, walang masamang epekto ito sa ating mga kababayan,” Vergeire said.

The IACEH member agencies pledged their commitment to collectively work to address the challenges leading to unsafe environments.

Vergeire said these diseases highlight the importance of addressing the social determinants of health through a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach. “The DOH cannot do this alone. We need to consolidate the efforts of other national government agencies, development partners, and the private sector to develop effective and sustainable strategies to prevent these kinds of outbreaks,” she said.

“All of these diseases are preventable, kaya dapat hindi na natin hinihintay na magkaroon ng outbreak bago tayo umaksyon. Kailangan nating paigtingin ang ating mga preventive measures at tugunan ang mga isyu pagdating sa social determinants of health, tulad ng safe water and sanitation access, upang maprotektahan ang ating mga kababayan,” she added. (Mindanao Examiner)