“It is fortunate that
the local chief executives of these towns have taken pro-active stance
in solving their respective municipalities’ critical health problems.
It is their drive and willingness to really work for better health
outcomes that their municipalities were chosen” according to Zuellig
Family Foundation.
Among the criteria for
the selection of municipalities were high disease burden such as
maternal mortality ratio, infant mortality rate, malnutrition
prevalence, sanitation and infectious disease; undermanned and
incomplete health facilities and services, Mayor’s and Municipal
Health Officers who are committed to improving health status and
Mayor’s commitment despite low health leadership.
Mayor Lucia
Latorre-Astorga of Daram,Samar, a doctor by profession said “that
among the challenges they face as local chief executives are
insufficient funds, lack of competent health personnel, good health
facilities, bad infrastructure that prevent quick and efficient
delivery of health services”. Daram is an island municipality where
the means of transportation is only by motor boats or banca. “ Our
barangays are totally isolated during monsoon seasons and bad weather,
thereby making it hard for our constituents to immediately access
health care especially during emergency”, Mayor Astorga said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Mario
Quijano of Pinabacdao, a doctor by profession also, proudly beams that
his municipality along with Daram was chosen from 191 nominated
municipalities across the country. The list was trimmed down to 27,
based on initial studies done by the foundation then finally
shortlisted to 12 municipalities. “We (the 12 municipalities)
underwent a final selection workshop where we faced questioning by the
Foundation’s board of trustees. Thereafter, we were formally accepted
by the Foundation as partners for the next two to three years”,
according to Mayor Quijano.
Among the benefits of
the partnership are leadership trainings and workshops, funding for
the construction of health facilities, holding of community health
summits, other health activities and implementation of appropriate
innovative health programs to improve health indicators and outcomes.
The 12 municipalities
are Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro; Cajidiocan and San Fernando, Romblon;
Minalabac, Camarines Sur; Pilar and Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon; Daram and
Pinabacdao, Samar; Leon Postigo, Lapuyan and San Pablo of Zamboanga
Del Sur and Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay. In working with these
municipalities, the foundation aims to help the country to attain
Millennium Development Goals in health by 2015, targeting to work with
50 municipalities between 2009 and 2013.
These municipalities
will be closely monitored by Zuellig Family Foundation to ensure
effective program implementation, such are effectiveness in reducing
health in-equities, enhancing health information systems, improving
health indicators particularly maternal and infant mortality rate
malnutrition rate and infectious diseases prevention as well as
improving water, sanitation and hygiene systems.
