OIC Health Secretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire leads the provision of health services during the launching of the “Sulong Kalusugan Para sa mga Katutubo” held at the Sison Stadia in Pangasinan on April 21, 2023.
Sison, Pangasinan – The Department of Health – Ilocos Region on Friday, April 21, 2023 launched the first “Sulong Kalusugan Caravan para sa mga Katutubo” in Sison, Pangasinan which provided essential health and medical services to indigenous cultural communities or indigenous people (ICC/IP) and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) of the province.
“Our indigenous peoples often have difficulty in accessing mainstream primary health care services. because most rural health units are not situated within easy reach. We will do it through the whole of government and the whole of society approach to address these concerns, pagtulungan po natin ito upang maibigay ang mga benepisyong nararapat sa kanila,” OIC Secretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire stated in her message during the program.
“Kailangan natin silang matulungan at mabigyan ng solusyon ang kanilang mga pangangailang pangkalusugan. They also need to be aware na may mga serbisyong ganito na binibigay ang ating gobyerno para sa kanila.”
“Maraming paraan upang ma-ideliver natin sa kanila ang health care services gaya ng provision of transport to and from the health care facility, pwede rin natin silang bigyan ng reduce health care costs para sa mga low incomes at close consultation para mapangalaggang mabuti ang kanilang kalusugan at kailangan natin dito ang tulong ng ating mga BHWs upang ma-identify sila at ma-address ang kanilang health care needs.”
A total of 500 IP/GIDA beneficiaries from barangays Agat (100), Labayug (200) Sagunto (100) and Bila (100) were provided basic health services during the activity.
There are 208,894 IPs in region 1and 17,268 resides in the province of Pangasinan. Most of them are situate in the town of Sison with 10,683.
Among the provisions and health services provided were nutrition, oral health, mental health, basic consultation, PHILPEN Risk Factor Screening, diabetic retinopathy screening, cervical cancer screening, immunization, TB active case finding, family planning, hearing test, and health education.
Medical devices such as wheelchairs, BHS packages, and other logistics were distributed including glucometers, HerbMAP packages, BHS packages, nutribox for pregnant women, adolescent health kits, buntis kits, mental health kits, V/S monitoring kits, and hearing aid for eligible patients.
Aside from the health services, a DOH scholarship for IP students who want to take up Allied Health Courses such as midwifery, pharmacy, and medical technology will also be offed.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco explained that the “Sulong Kalusugan Caravan para sa mga Katutubo” was conceptualized with the objective of providing basic health services for the IPs and GIDAs and showcase the exemplary efforts of the regional office in improving public health in the region.
“Kailangan nating ipaalam sa ating mga kababayang katutubo kung anu ang mga health benefits na maari nilang makuha sa ating mga local na pamahalaan at kung papaano nila mapapabuti ang kanilang kalusugan.”
“Ang kalusugan ay ating kayaman. Kaya’t mahalagang lahat ay mabigyan ng sapat at tamang serbisyong pangkalusugan upang sila ay mapangalagaan at guminhawa ang buhay,” she emphasized.
The caravan was conducted in partnership with the local government of Sison, Pangasinan, the Provincial Government Unit of Pangasinan, the Provincial Health Office, National Commission on Indigenous People – Region 1, district hospitals of Pangasinan, DOH-retained hospitals including Ilocos Training, Regional Medical Center, Conrado F. Estrella Regional Medical and Trauma Center and Region 1 Medical Center, Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center of La Union and Dagupan City, the Philippine Dental Association of Pangasinan and Philippine Medical Society of Pangasinan.
