One Visayas inks covenant on health

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
June 26, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  One Visayas composed of Western, Central and Eastern Visayas Regions forged a Health Covenant as a result of the recently concluded One Visayas Health Forum at Leyte Park Hotel Convention Center A.

The Health Covenant was signed on June 22 by the One Visayas Regional Development Committee composed of the Regional Development Councils of Regions VI, VII and VIII Chairpersons Governor Salvacion Z. Perez for Region 6; and Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen S. Sarmiento for Region 8, and the representative of Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia for Region 7.

The Health Covenant which will undergo polishing and styling was based on the issues and experiences generated from the participants of the three Visayas Regions in their operations of devolved tertiary, provincial and district hospitals.

The Health Covenant is a manifestation of the One Visayas Regions to share and to mentor one another on the best practices on the four thrusts of Fourmula One health service delivery, health regulation, health care financing and health governance.

The One Visayas Health Covenant expresses the hope of the member regions to have bigger voice in policy recommendations and courses of action to improve delivery of devolved health services to local government units.

Furthermore, the One Visayas Health Covenant underscores that the great impact climate change has on human health.

Although Health Secretary Cabral was unable to attend the Forum, she was ably represented by Assistant Secretary of Health Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, who also tackled another topic, the consolidated issues and concerns of the Health sector.