CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Department of Health launched on Thursday the Primary Care Day in Lubao town, coinciding with the holding of the Alagang Nanay Preventive Healthcare Program of the Pampanga provincial government.
“Investing in primary care means advancing equity. A reliable primary care system affords more of our kababayans the opportunity to access health services that they would otherwise not be able to enjoy under a health system that prioritizes high-cost specialist care,” said DOH OIC-Secretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire at the launch.
Some 1,250 senior citizens, adults, and children availed themselves of consultations, immunization, and nutrition checkups in the event held at the provincial government’s quarantine facility in Barangay Sta. Catalina.
The patients were also provided with medicines, screening and diagnosis of common communicable and non-communicable diseases, and health education and counseling on risk factors and diseases. PhilHealth representatives were also present to facilitate registration of patients into their system.
Speaking of her brainchild the Alagang Nanay Preventive Healthcare Program, Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda said: “Layon ng ating programa na maiwasan ang paglala ng sakit ng mga Kapampangan, kaya habang maaga ay kinukuha at tinutulungan na nating makapagpagamot nang libre ang ating mga kababayan na may-sakit, sa tulong na rin ng ating partner agencies.”
The vice governor also stressed the value in preventive care: “Malaki rin ang maitutulong nito para hindi na umabot sa milyun-milyong halaga ang mailabas ng Kapitolyo para sa hospital bills ng mga Kapampangan na lumubha ang karamdaman.”
Witnessing the conduct of the Alagang Nanay program, the DOH in-charge enthused: “Ako po, personally, ay hangang-hanga sa lahat po ng efforts na ginagawa nina Governor at Vice Governor Pineda rito sa kanilang lugar katulong po ang kanilang local officials at ang regional office ng DOH. Nakahahanga dahil nakita natin, hindi lang sila naka-focus sa primary care at preventive services, ginawan pa nila ng extra.”
“Ito ay isang kahanga-hangang bagay, at sana po ang ating LGUs ay gawing best practice at modelo ang ginagawa po natin dito sa Pampanga, dahil ito po ang makaka-solve sa napakataas na burden natin sa ngayon sa ating mga ospital,” she added.
Before the event ended, the Philippine Business for Social Progress turned over one van to the Center for Health Development-Region 3 for the delivery of primary care service to remote areas.
Health Undersecretary Nestor Santiago, USAID Philippines deputy health director Yolanda Oliveros, and DOH-3 director Corazon Flores joined Vergeire during the program.
