(L-R) Congressman Angelo Barba *center) of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte receives the BHS packages from DOH Ilocos Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco and Ilocos Sur Provincial Governor Jeremias Singson receives HFEP funds, ental chairs and HPV vaccines during a separate turn-over ceremony held on December 2, 2023.
TWO provinces in Ilocos Region namely, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, received Barangay Health Station (BHS) packages, set of dental chairs and instruments and fund allocations for district hospitals from the Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region during a separate turn-over ceremony held at the Batac Museum Ilocos Norte and at the Ilocos Sur Provincial Farmers Livelihood Center in Vigan City last Saturday, December 2, 2023.
For Ilocos Norte, a total of twenty-four (24) set of BHS packages worth P500k were distributed to the health facilities of the 2nd District including 11 sets to the local government (LGU) of Solsona, 11 to Pinili LGU, 1 for the City of Batac, and 1 for Nueva Era.
The BHS package is composed of a dressing cart, minor surgical set, mechanical bed, spine board, EENT diagnostic set, weighing scale with BMI calculator, weighing scale for infant, fetal doppler and examining table, medicine cabinet, instrument cabinet, nursing kit, tabletop sterilizer, and generating set 10kva funded through the Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP).
For Ilocos Sur, a complete set of eight (8) dental chairs worth P168,000 were given to the district hospitals of Magsingal and Gabriela Silang and six (6) other rural health units in the province including eleven (11) sets of dental instruments worth P22,000 for the prevention and control of dental diseases and promotion of dental health in the communities.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco, who personally handed the donations said that the medical equipment was funded under the General Appropriations Act of 2023.
“Primary healthcare facilities are at the forefront of providing vital health services directly to our communities such as vaccinations, basic check-ups including health education programs and these equipment will help improve the delivery of basic health care services, especially in remote barangays where healthcare access is limited.
Sydiongco also turned over 20% (first tranche) of project allocation funds from HFEP for the construction/completion/upgrading/repair of Ilocos Sur District Hospitals including ₱4M for Santa Lucia; ₱2,960,000 million for Cervantes; ₱4,366,000 for Salcedo; ₱5M to Tagudin; ͥ₱2M Magsingal; ₱6,020,000 Narvacan; and ₱4M to Sinait.
The regional office also distributed HPV vaccines to the Ilocos Sur Provincial Office for the vaccination of 9-14 years old female children.
Sydiongco encouraged health officials to prioritize the HPV vaccination and ensure that the vaccines are distributed equitably and efficiently.
“Continue advocating for all Routine Vaccines and seek Zero-dose Children and provide them the needed immunization for their health and safety,” she emphasized.
