Bataan, on track towards attaining the highest HDI in the country

CITY of BALANGA, Bataan – Chaired by Governor Albert S. Garcia, the Provincial Local Health Board held its meeting this morning at the Bulwagan ng Bayan, Conference Room.

Provincial Health Office Head, Dr. Rosanna Buccahan, presided over said meeting composed of the different local and national government agencies and NGOs.

Among the pertinent issues tackled are the ff:

1.    Expanded local health board composition

2.    Bataan is now officially declared as Malaria-free province and will receive Php 1M cash incentive from the DOH.

3.    Bataan topped the DOH’s Anti-tobacco campaign receiving the most number of awards (30) during the Red Orchid Awarding Ceremonies 2017 recently held in Ilocos Norte.

4.    In terms of vector borne diseases, such as Dengue, Japanese Encephalitis, Bataan is not placed under the alarming category, meaning necessary interventions such as information dissemination and treatment to name a few are efficient and in place.

5.    With regards to HIV-AIDS, only three LGUs in Bataan have reported minimal cases; Balanga City, Dinalupihan and Mariveles and the thrust is on preserving an HIV free generation.

6.    The status of arsenic water quality monitoring program was also reported and so far, necessary interventions to safeguard the people against the ill effects of arsenic contaminated water such as skin diseases are in place.

7.    The 2 mobile dental buses from the DOH are currently loaned to Dinalupihan and Mariveles, providing much needed dental services to indigents especially in far flung areas, for free.

8.    With regards to rabies, it has been agreed, upon the recommendation of Gov. Abet and seconded by Mayor Gila of Dinalupihan who is also the president of the Mayors’ League for the board to draft a resolution requesting PhilHealth to increase its coverage to Rabies patients because presently, the coverage is only 3thousand pesos per patient, but the DOH spends 8-10 thousand pesos, which is given to indigent patients for free.

In his short talk, Gov. Abet shared some of the ongoing programs and plans of the provincial government in support to the attainment of the province’s vision of attaining the highest human development index (HDI) in the country.

1.    Measurement of mortality and morbidity, trace the causes (natural and unnatural) of death to lessen the number of deaths and prolong life expectancy.

2.    Maintain and systematize the service delivery network starting from the barangay level

3.    Provision of health facilities to the barangays, professionalization of the barangay health workers

4.    Conversion of the present Bulwagan ng Bayan into a One Stop Shop for indigent patients or the 1Bataan Service Delivery Command Center

5.    Issuance of smart cards to indigents to monitor their health’s safekeeping

6.    Taking a more aggressive stance in the township projects