DOH – Ilocos Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco, Mayor Joey Warren A. Bragado and Municipal Health Officer Shirley G. Luna leads the distribution of HerbMAP Homecare Package to less than 500 GIDA beneficiaries of San Emilio, Ilocos Sur during the launching and distribution held at the town’s covered court on January 25, 2023.
The Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region through the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC), launched the Herbal Medicine Access Program (HerbMAP) to benefit the marginalized and underserved households in San Emilio, Ilocos Sur yesterday, January 25, 2023.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco stated that the HerbMAP is in support of the goals of the Universal Health Care for free access to essential medicines.
“Ang HerbMAP ay naglalayon na makapagbigay ng epektibo at de-kalidad na gamot at produktong herbal na makakatulong sa pangangalaga ng kanilang kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan. Prayoridad nating mabigyan ng libre ang mga residente na nasa GIDA (Georgraphically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas) at kabilang sa listahan ng mga nasa marginalized and underserved population.”
“The program provides safe, effective and quality herbal medicines and products manufactured by PITAHC which promotes and advocates the use of traditional medicines and products to Filipino households to treat common ailments,” Sydiongco emphasized.
Included in the HerbMAP homecare package are one box of lagundi tablets for the treatment of cough and asthma, one bottle of virgin coconut oil for food supplement, antibacterial soaps including guava soap used for washing of wounds and sore and “akapulko” soap for use in washing of skin problems aused by fungal infections like scabies and ringworm.”
Ms. Helen A. Posilero, Regional Program Manager for tradition and herbal medicines said said that they will be prioritizing the distribution of HerbMAP packs in identified GIDAs of Ilocos Sur province.
“Napakaimportante po na mai-promote po natin ang paggamit ng herbal medicines dahil marami po tayong mga halaman at bungang kahoy na nakapagbibigay sa ating katawan ng kaginhawaan at lunas.”
“We will be reaching out to all residents of GIDAs in Ilocos Sur for them to be able to access herbal medicines and products which will provide them treatment and care for chronic illnesses,” Posilero added.
Meanwhile, San Emilio Mayor Joey Warren A. Bragado expressed his utmost gratitude to DOH and PITAHC for selecting his local government unit as a beneficiary of the HerbMAP initiative of the health department.
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