Baricuatro’s healthcare agenda speeds up public health services in Cebu

CEBU CITY – Cebu governor Pamela Baricuatro’s healthcare agenda continues to speed up healthcare management and services with multi-sector collaboration specifically on priority health needs in various communities in the province.

 

Dr. Nikki Catalan, Capitol Piso Health Consultant shared some weekly milestones on Baricuatro’s health agenda starting from the hiring of at least 160 nurses and training them for a two-day Basic Life Support (BLS) on September 23-24 before they are deployed to the 16 Capitol-run hospitals and 12 district hospitals.

Nurse John Noel Enriquez, program facilitator and manager of the Disaster Risk Reduction Management in Health (DRRM-H) program of the Provincial Health Office echoed Baricuatro’s priority to capacitate the hospitals not only in terms of equipment, facilities or diagnostic tools, but also the manpower, the healthcare provider.

On September 22, Baricuatro rolled out the community-based rehabilitation program in all Cebu local government units, especially in far-flung towns and islands. Dr. Catalan announced this at the “Community-Based Rehab Summit” held at the Capitol Social Hall.

“Services like physical therapy for stroke survivors are rarely available in rural communities. Dili man gud kaayo ni sila matagad and maglisod sad sila’g pangita aning services sa ilang communities,” Catalan added.

Baricuatro, in her message, noted that rehabilitation is not always seen as urgent, but it is what allows people to recover fully-- to walk again, to work again, to live with dignity again after sickness, injury, or disability. “This program is another first for Cebu, addressing an often-neglected aspect of healthcare.”

The Governor said that to implement the rehab program, Municipal Health Officers (MHOs) and barangay health workers (BHWs) are to undergo basic training in rehabilitation therapy and other areas of physiatry to help patients recover and heal faster.

Rehabilitation medicine, or physiatry, is a specialty focused on restoring function to individuals disabled by illness, disorder, or injury. It provides multidisciplinary care that addresses not only medical needs but also the physical, emotional, vocational, and social aspects of recovery, Catalan added.

Meanwhile, Capitol led by governor Baricuatro and Philippine Red Cross headed by Richard Gordon inked a partnership agreement to support the various programs of the Red Cross in Cebu, with a donation of P1.4 million through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) for the insurance coverage for all responders across the province's local government units.

Baricuatro and Gordon signed the agreement, September 22 to also seal all other partnerships with Cebu Province such as Red Cross’ blood Samaritan program and blood availability. These programs also received P2 million in funding from the province to ensure blood availability for indigent patients during emergencies at Capitol-run hospitals. (Photos: Cebu Capitol PIO)