isla mimaropa - first issue

7/28/2019 ISLA MIMAROPA - First Issue

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2/20

CENTER FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT IV

2

EDITORIAL BOARD

Anna Birtha Danguinoo

Editor-in-Chief

Dr. Faith Alberto

Dr. Fe Almirante

Dr. Ma. Teresa CaslloMr. Joselito Padua

Managing Editors

Ethyll Blanco, Contributing Editor; Ramonito Marn,Feature Editor; Dr. Elsa Alberto, Dr.

Michael Enarbia, Lecia Vio, Dr. Ruth Cervo, Dr. Ali Agama, Jhoanne Macam, Carmela

Quitoriano, Ma. Teresa Rellesiva, Alejandre Mercado, Genoveva Vias, Belen Itay,

Agnes Palao (ONP), Rommel Howard Iway (Culion), Contributing Writers;

Ricardo Malubag Jr.,Layout Editor; Rouelyn Basbas, Omar Candelosa, Creative Staff;

Felinda Balazon, Alicia Vargas, Karen Joyce Carreos, Secretariat.

Director Gloria Balboa

Lester AonuevoAdvisers

The ISLA MiMaRoPa serves as a

communicaon tool for the region in

response to the call for an eecve,

ecient and equitable health systems

through responsible informaon

disseminaon.

As part of CHD IVBs health informaon

system, this newsleer shall keep local and

internaonal partners abreast with the

health sector development in the islands,

creang comprehensive health informaon

exchanges.

VISION

Champion for Health in MIMAROPA

MISSION

Ensure quality, eecve, ecient and

equitable healthcare across the region.

CORE VALUES

C - ompetence

C - ommitment

P - rofessionalism

I - ntegrity

T - eamwork


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Directors Message

Stewarding Health Sector Reform

Agenda for Future Linkages

In the quest of knowledge and with a mission to empower health practitioners in their becoming excellent human resources in order tocontribute meaningfully to the region and to the human society as well, the Center for Health Development Region IV B seeks to servequality, effective and efcient health care services to the Filipinos. However, we never seem to put our efforts in writing in this greaterdomain of advancement of the human society. I am pleased that by now, we are opening our lines of communication through this rst issueof ISLA MIMAROPA, the ofcial newsletter of the region. We are delighted to share with you some of our thoughts and passions about thepractice of public health.

We also hope to hear what motivates you in your practice, your aims and achievements in our linkages towards a better health care system.By articulating and sharing our aspirations, we can build a stronger community of public health practitioners and leaders. There have sincebeen many changes and new developments in our public health system. Clearly, we cannot present less than a decade of news in the rst issue,but we will attempt to give you a avor of the exciting developments in CHD. We are highly interested in your progress. This newsletter seeksto bring us together so we can learn of our successes and how to improve our programs. We consider our partners to be a very important partand parcel of the agency in its journey towards excellence and eagerly look forward to your valued feedback and suggestions.

We strongly believe in our human values and our commitment to the Nation and human societys health. Accordingly, our processes arebased on motivating factors, discipline in relaxed natural ambience and we have created a secured, congenial and serene environment for ourengagement.

And we are only in the process of further development.

Gloria J. Balboa, MD, MPH, MHA, CEO VI, CESO IIIDirector IV

Editor-in-Chiefs Message

Reverie!

Early part of 2009 Isla MiMaRoPa was just a reverie. With so much good things going with us there was a feeling of fancy to come up witha newsletter to reveal our transformation into a dynamic (as we say) region six years after our birth as the newest region.

Then again we were not able to produce one last year. But by Gods grace and guidance from the right people, you are now holding therst issue of Isla MiMaRoPa, the Ofcial Newsletter of Center for Health Development IV-B. Our directions are clearly to bare the variousexciting health events and initiatives which we humbly considered distinctive of our region.

For this rst issue we bring you interesting happenings, good practices and rousing encounters for your reading pleasure. Muchappreciation and gratitude goes to the efforts of the contributors of the articles.

And as we go on board this new challenge of writing which commenced this Year of the Tiger, we too shall be eet and astute. Ourpurpose is draw attention not only to the goings-on of the CHD but also the stirring and amusing stories from the islands. We at IslaMiMaRoPa has started and will continue to disclose our chronicles and triumphs, cautiously investing our efforts to what we believe willupdate you and simultaneously encourage all of us.

In behalf of the team behind this newsletter, I furnish you with our rst issue. Pleasant reading!

Anna Birtha I. Datinguinoo, RNEditor-in-Chief

OIC, Local Health Assistance Division


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ISSUE I Volume 1 2010

The Ofcial Newsletter of the Center for Health Development Region IV B (MIMAROPA)

CHD commences 1st Regl Recognition Rites

Slimming pills banned in MIMAROPA

recognizing the best performing LGUs through score cards

Zhen de shou fat loss capsules and tea barred

TO BOLSTER EFFORTS IN REGIONALIZING F1 FOR HEALTH,the Center for Health Development through the Local HealthAssistance Division recognized various local government unitsperformance in the 1st Regional Recognition Rites for Performing

LGUs last February 17 at Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City.DOH Undersecretary Alexander

Padilla graced the event as guest ofhonor. He emphasized that partnersin health reform has their ownrespective roles to perform andCHD, as the central catalyst, shouldcoordinate the direction towardsbeing champions for health in theentire MIMAROPA region.

Through the results of the LGUReport Cards in 2008, the winningInter Local Health Zones (ILHZ)were given plaques of recognitionand incentive packages amounting

to P30,000 for each membermunicipality and P75,000 for thecore referral hospital. Among thewinners are SaMaRiCa ILHZ andSan Jose District Hospital, MAPSSaILHZ and Occidental MindoroProvincial Hospital, South IHLZ,Oriental Mindoro and RoxasDistrict Hospital, Central IHLZ,Oriental Mindoro and PinamalayanCommunity Hospital, District I IHLZand Dr. Damian Reyes MemorialHospital in Marinduque, Southern

Tablas IHLZ and Don ModestoFormilleza Sr. Memorial Hospital,Zone 3 ILHZ and Taytay DistrictHospital and Puerto Princesa ILHZ.The event also acknowledged threeExemplary Practices identied bythe Department of Health namelyC-cares of Corcuera, Romblon,Voluntary Brigade for MalariaCase Finding in Bulalacao, OrientalMindoro and No Philhealth, NoBusiness Permit in Puerto PrincesaCity.

The two RHUs received plaques

of recognition and incentivepackages amounting to P100,000.On the other hand, St. Martins

Mission Hospital in Sablayan,Occidental Mindoro receivedP25,000 cash and P75,000 worth ofhospital equipment as the recipientof the Center for Wellness Award.

The event was attended bypartner agencies and individualsfrom PTAHC, QMMC, PBC, NNC,PopCom, DOLE, PhilHealth, LRICand other institutions.

Enforcing the Food and DrugsAdministrations recall, ban orseizure of Zhen de Shou Fat LossCapsule and Tea as from public saleand distribution, the Food and DrugsRegulatory ofcers conscatedthe several products being sold inbeauty establishments, drugstores,convenient stores, groceries andother outlets in Oriental Mindoro

and Palawan.FDAs ndings through

laboratory examinations revealedthat numerous samples of Zhende Shou Fat loss capsules containamphetamine which is a prohibitedsubstance, sibutramine, an activeingredient of prescription drugs forerectile dysfunction and sildenal,on the other hand for weight loss.

According to FDA, thesesubstances are imminently injurious

Whats Inside

and dangerous and produccontaining any such ingredientsold liberally in the market withouFDAs approval, pose impendindanger to the public.

Regional Pharmicist Shirley Taainformed the public in OrientMindoro via local televisiointerview.

Local police also assiste

the regulatory ofcers in theinspection in the provincMeanwhile, there were no banneproducts apparently being solto the provinces of MarinduquOccidental Mindoro and Romblon

Continuous monitoring opossible outlets are being conducteregionwide in reference tDepartment Circular 2009-027declaring the outright seizure of thexpelled products.

GROWING STRONG IN THE REGION. CHD Regional Director Gloria Balboa

congratulates best performing LGUs with Undersecretary Alexander Padilla

and OIC Assistant Regional Director Faith Alberto. Director Balboa explains toUsec Padilla how the department built strong ties among its partner agencies

in the 1st Regional Recognition Rites in Imperial Palace Suites, Feb. 17.

St. Martins Missionary

Hospital: A Sanctuary

of Grace and Healingpage 12

The Rewards of Serving in the

Barrios: My Agutaya Experiencepage 17


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CENTER FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT IVB NEWS

Our frontline health workers are

at higher risk for getting the diseasethan ordinary people due to theirlarger probability of exposure. Inaddition, they may also transmit theinfection to other patients, as wellas their families and co-workers, soit is appropriate that they be givenpriority now that the vaccines areready for deployment, HealthSecretary Esperanza Cabral said.

As the vaccine for A H1N1were made available, the Centerfor Health Development IV-Blaunched the vaccination programlast April 26, at Ardent Hotel,Puerto Princesa City where around

80 Frontline Health Workers/First-line responders were considered asthe rst recipients of the vaccine.The Frontline Health Workers orFirst-line Responders came fromthe Provincial Health Ofce ofPalawan, City Health Ofce ofPuerto Princesa and Ospital ngPalawan.

During the talk of DirectorGloria J. Balboa, she emphasizedthe importance of the vaccine andencouraged that all frontline healthworkers must submit themselves forvaccination as to protect their selves

THUMBS UP.A pregnant health worker showing thumbs up after receiving a

single shot of the AH1N1 vaccine.

against the pandemic A H1N1.Dr. Teresa Castillo also advised

the frequent washing of hands withsoap and water, proper hygiene andother measures including coveringnose and mouth when coughing andsneezing, using alcohol-based handsanitizers, avoiding close contactwith sick people and increasingbodys resistance by sleeping atleast eight hours of sleep, being

physically active, managing stress,drinking plenty of uids and eatingnutritious food to prevent thespread of the virus.

The ceremony ended as all ofthe health workers who attendedreceived their shots of PandemicAH1N1 Vaccine.

The inuenza (swine u)outbreak back in 2009 posed a threatto almost all nations with the fast

In the quest of solving maternaland infant mortality problems inthe remote islands of MIMAROPA,a novel initiative in Romblon wasfeatured by several media outtsincluding Malaya and Inquirer, forits contribution in the health sectorreform agenda.

Buntis Baby Bank, a pet projectof Dr. Heide Exconde Municipal

Health Ofcer of Cajidiocan,Sibuyan Island in Romblon, helpedwomen cope with the cost ofprenatal checkups, facility-baseddeliveries and other medical needs,even in remote barangays by llingup piggy banks.

In the article in Malaya, Dr.Exconde explains that themechanics are simple. Motherswho go to rural health unitsare assigned piggy banks where

spreading from person-to-person, imuch the same way that the regulaseasonal inuenza viruses spreawith signs and symptoms of feveheadache, fatigue, lack of appetiterunny nose, sore throat and coughThe agency has doubled its effortin dealing with the novel viruA(H1N1) especially in thorougcontact tracing and slowing dowthe spread of the virus.

THREE HEADS OF AGENCIES, THREE VACCINE SHOTS. (From Left to Right) Dr. Glorino Juan of Ospital ngPalawan, Dr. Eduardo Cruz of the Provincial Health Ofce, Dr. Juancho Monserate of Puerto Princesa City Health Ofce

got shots of the rst A(H1N1) vaccines during the simultaneous launching of A (H1N1) campaign of the Department of

Health in Puerto Prinsesa City, Palawan, April 26.

AH1N1 vaccines

for Frontline

Health Workers

- Sec. Cabral

Buntis Baby Bank featured for

boosting maternal health care and

child health in Cajidiocan, Romblonthey drop whatever amounthey can afford every time thevisit. Relatives, friends, and locaofcials are encouraged to similarlmake drops to help the motheWithdrawals from the piggbank can be made by the mothewhen she avails of proper facilitiediscouraging deliveries at home.

Meanwhile in the Inquire

article, Exconde shares that to dat12 pregnant women have eacbeen given a piggy bank, while simothers have availed themselves otheir savings.

Exconde says the number opregnant women who go foprenatal checkups has increasefrom 18 to 27 percent, while thnumber of facility-based birthinhas gone up from 83 to 92 percensince the programs launching.


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NEWS

Working Together to Count Malaria

Out starts in Iwahig Penal ColonyThis years World Malaria Day

celebration is an opportunity for theregion once again to put emphasison the important work that is allabout saving lives and stoppingmalaria now and attaining theMillennium Development Goal by2015 of counting malaria out.

Through rapidly deliveringmalaria interventions preventivenets, diagnostic tests, anti-malarialdrugs and indoor spraying toall people at risk and pave wayto virtually ending deaths due tomalaria by 2015, the internationalcommunity thrives to pull its acttogether in their efforts.

Dubbed Working Together toCount Malaria Out, the Center

for Health Development IV-B incollaboration with the ProvincialHealth Ofce of Palawan, CityHealth Ofce of Puerto PrincesaCity, Pilipinas Shell Foundation,Inc. and the Kilusan Ligtas Malariacommemorates World Malaria Day2010 at Iwahig Penal Farm Colonyin Puerto Princesa City last April 25.

World Malaria Day 2010 marksa critical moment in time as theinternational malaria communityhas less than a year to meet the2010 targets of delivering effectiveand affordable protection andtreatment to all people at risk of

malaria. Effective low-cost tools

exist to prevent and treat thedisease and new and improvedtools are currently being developedand tested and a global actionplan has been put forth to guide acoordinated international effort tocontrol, eliminate and eventuallyeradicate malaria.

According to Dr. Mario Baquilod,National Malaria Coordinator, theDepartment of Health is exertingefforts to put under total control thespread of malaria infection throughmapping out a 5-year strategic plan.

The strategic plan is to distributemosquito nets in all parts of thecountry, start extensive pubicawareness raising campaign throughthe collaboration of all government

institutions and partners, and trainhealth professionals.The celebration was joined by

the In-mates of minimum securityof Iwahig Penal Farm Colony. Athanksgiving mass was conductedand ofciated by Rev. Fr. JoseRuel Tuale. Inmates and childrenof employees presented songsand dance number during thecelebration.

Present in the event were DirectorGloria J. Balboa, Dr. Mario Baquilod,National Malaria Coordinator andheads of other partner agenciesrepresented by Dr. Eduardo Cruz,

Dr. Juancho Monserate, and others.

CHD IVB netunes international efforts in combating Malaria

(UPPER Photo) HOW TO.Mr. Oscar Macam, Jr., Malaria Program Coordinator

explained to Director Gloria J. Balboa the procedure on how to impregnate the

mosquito nets.

(LOWER Photo) BLOOD SMEARING FOR INMATES. One of the Iwahig

Penal Colony Farm Inmates was taken blood sample as a procedure to detect

malaria during the celebration of the World Malaria Day.

With three years of existence, the Center for Health DevelopmentsEmpolyees Association successfully sustains the Botika ng Barangayin the regional ofce located at Quirino Memorial Medical CenterCompound, Project 4, Quezon City.

The BnB was petitioned by the union and started its operations onSeptember 2007 and is currently maintaining regular stipend for twoBnB operators, providing nancial assistance in the form of gasolineand other traveling expenses for union members, snacks for the FirstFriday mass of the agency, scal assistance during agency activities such

as anniversaries and holiday celebrations and assisting its members intheir medical needs.

The history of BnB operations in the region in 2004 in OrientalMindoro as one of the pilot areas. The rst orientation for BnB operatorswas conducted in Bongabong and upon completion of the minimum BnBdocumentary requirements, 15 barangays were awarded with P25,000worth of drugs of medicines.

Existing BnBs in the region were acknowledged by the central ofcefor their outstanding performance and maintenance. Some of theseBnBs were BnB in Labasan, Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro and BnBVillapagasa, Bansud, Oriental Mindoro.

CHD IV B sustains the Botika ng

Barangay in the regional ofce


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CENTER FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT IVB

National Youth Commissionthrough the various agencies of thegovernment composing the RegionalAdvisory Committee, pushes forthe implementation of ExecutiveOrder No. 788 in promoting a YouthNational Service in addressing theeconomic struggles of the commonFilipino youth.

Stipulated in the executive orderis the composition of the NationalService Corps under NYC for educationand community service programsand the Youth Conservation Corps

to be supervised by the PhilippineNational Police for infrastructure andenvironmental concerns.

The Executive Order was signedtwo years ago, yet several departmentswere only compliant to the orderdespite the absence of ImplentingRules and Regulations.

Lester Anonuevo, planning ofcer

In connection withthe celebration of CancerConsciousness week and withthe increasing incidence ofprostate cancer, CHD IV Bthrough the Health OperationsDivision conducted recently anorientation on prostate cancerfor all its personnel and digitalrectal examination (DRE) forall 40 years old and above malepersonnel.

Dr. Eufemio Macalalad,Medical Specialist II of theQuirino Memorial MedicalCenter headed the team inDRE together with Dr. MariaCharina Tuazon and Dr. MichaelGatmaitan of the same institution.

Marinduque launches Healthy

Lifestyle to the Max campaign

Regional Advisory Committee meet;

concurs a Youth National Service

Repackaged Healthy Lifestyle Advocacy campaign dubbed HL tothe Max was launched in Torros, Marinduque in correspondenceto promoting consciousness on the risk factors that cause non-communicable diseases last February 23.

The event was attended by the local chief executives headed byMayor Gil Briones together with Vice-Governor Pizzaro who ensuredhis support to the HL to the Max campaign.

The campaign pushes for the practice of the Seven Healthy LifestyleHabits particularly, no smoking, no drinking alcohol, no to illegal drugs,eating low-fat, low-salt and high-ber diet, preventing hypertension,doing physical activities and managing stress.

Several activities such as health parade, Hataw exercise, lectures,discussion, risk assessment through blood pressure taking, urinalysis andglucose test, body mass index (BMI) and presentation of the nal draft ofthe local ordinance on tobacco highlighted the campaign.

The campaign was highlightedby the open forum where severalissues were resolved includingthat all who were aged 40 andabove should undergo digital rectalexam and prostate specic antigen,condentiality clauses, where Dr.Macalalad provided two perspectivesthat should be followed.

First, according to Dr. Macalalad, onthe patients perspective or those whowould not want to disclose it to theirrelatives and second, on the relativesperspective that there are those whowould not want the patient to knowthat a person has cancer, and theissuance of a memorandum orderingall target clients to comply with thescreening.

CHD IV B runs digital rectal exam

orientation for prostate cancer

Mainstreaming youth recipients in health programs

of CHD IVB suggested that in thabsence of the YNS, governmenservices should mainstreamyouth members as recipients orespective programs, rst befororganizing and extending it as aindependent program of RAC anNYC.

NYC Assistant SecretarChristopher Arnuco suggested torganize a master list of programcatered to the youth from thmembers of the committee.

The council meeting wa

attended by Director JosenTorres, DOLE, Ma. TeresitIglesia, DILG, Priscila ContreraDSWD, Jean Min Ladia, DENRHermelina Ricafort, DBMRosalina Reyes and Ma. EmelCinco, TESDA. Baibonn SangidMarla Clemente and Jose CieloNational Youth Commission.

NEWS

VALIDATING TARGET CLIENT LIST. Genoveva Vias of CHD IVB veries

data written in the reporting forms in one of the district health ofces in Ormoc

BROWSING ALL EXISTING RECORDS. The Regulations, Licensing and

Enforcement Division team, headed by Dr. Carol Macabeo, reviews all the

records in RTN Foundation Inc. Hospital in Bataraza, Palawan, March 2.

TESTING URINE SAMPLES. In the attempt to detect renal diseases, the

Health Operation Services, through the Renal Disease Control Program tested

urine samples from all CHD personnel in QMMC Compound, March 29.


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HOD steps up integratedmonitoring on MCH

LHAD strengthens BusCoCulin

Inter Local Health zone

The Health Operations Divisionthrough the Maternal and ChildHealth Care cluster performedan integrated monitoring onMaternal, Family Planningand Child Care program inOriental Mindoro and monitoredmunicipalities of PuertoGalera, San Teodoro, Bulalacao,Mansalay, Roxas and Bongabongto validate Maternal NewbornChild Health and Nutrition(MNCHN) indicators andassessment of Contraceptive SelfReliance (CSR) implementationlast February 16-19.

With the phase out of foreigndonated family planning (FP)

supplies in 2006, the provincecontinued to purchase FPsupplies from the capitationfund for distribution to differentmunicipalities.

Only the municipality ofBulalacao Rural Health Unitpurchased FP supplies while theothers have no budget in theirrespective FP programs from2006 up to 2009.

All MNCHN indicators arefar better compared to the

targets. Other ndings showedthat all municipalities visited haveupdated master list for Maternal andChild Health Care program with FPbased on their target client list andorganized womens health team inevery barangay to track pregnancy.

Consecutively, the monitoringteam composed of Rachael Paladanand Dr. Peter Hew Curameng of theProvincial Health Team Ofce andPerla Supnet and Cynthia del Rio fromthe CHD, monitored municipalitiesof San Vicente, Taytay, El Nido andRoxas in Northern Palawan.

All municipalities visited excludingTaytay, since their RHU collapsed dueto a landslide, were compliant with

the updated master list for Prenatal,Postnatal, FP and EPI programs.In the data presented, home

deliveries were still with the highestpercentage of accomplishment in far-ung areas attended by traditionalbirth attendants. In view of this, thecluster intends to do advocacy andmassive information disseminationregarding facility-based deliveriesin various barangays, orientation towomens health team to track downpregnancy efciently.

To strengthen the collaborationbetween local government units andCenter for Health Development, CHDIV B headed to BusCoCuLin (Busuanga,Coron, Culion and Linopacan) areain monitoring health activities andat the same time attended the BCCLBarangay Health Workers Summitlast February 4-7.

Daluyon 2010, the native languageof Linapacan, meaning waves, was

attended by barangay health workersof the four municipalities. Severaldiscussions including climate changeand emerging and re-emerging diseaseswere among the issues resolved in theevent.

Regional Director Gloria Balboagraced the event and had a conversationwith Congressman Antonio Alvarez of

Monitoring team inspects Oriental Mindoro and Palawan

the 1st District of Palawan.The team distributed medicine

and hospital supplies to fourural health units includintwo hospitals in the areConsequently, a consultativmeeting was also held betweethe ofcials and employeeof Culion Sanitarium and thCHD staff to better understanits relationship and deepen i

working dynamics.The team was composed b

Regional Director Gloria Balbowith OIC-LHAD Chief AnnBirtha Datinguinoo, Dr. JoselitAwat, Dr. Ali Salvador AgamMa. Teresa Du, Ethyll BlancoDonna Padua, Alejandre Mercadand Rommel Howard Iway.

NEWS

EFHSIS ON THE ROLL. Ricardo Malubag of CHD IVB teaches the rudiments

of the Electronic Field Health Service Information System to the Assistant City

Health Ofcer of Ormoc City Health Ofce, February 22-26.

PERSONNEL WITH A CAUSE. CHD IV B personnel spends time to donate

blood in the quarterly blood donation drive spearheaded by the Local Health

Assistance Division in partnership with the Quirino Memorial Medical Center.

Engineers, Architects from LGU review

civil work plans through workshopMunicipal and provincial engineers

and architects from MIMAROPAregion convened in RobbinsdaleResidences, Quezon City for aworkshop on the review of civil workplans for Health Facility EnhancementProgram headed by the Regulations,Licensing and Enhancement Divisionlast February 9-11.

Dr. Fe Almirante, OIC-chief of theRLE Division together with Engr.Benedict Allago, Engr. Arvy Tiglao,Arch. Ferdinand Laverinto of DOH-NCHFD, Teresa Rellesiva, legal ofcerElizabeth Guilalas, accountant and

other members of the divisiofacilitated the workshop tacklinprocurement activities relativto the election ban period anstandard requirements for thapproval of civil works.

Issues to the content omemorandum of agreement anfund release, deadlines to thimplementation of the projecwere also discussed.

All the participants were ablto submit their respective ooplans, duly approved by EngAllago and Arch. Laverinto.


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MetamorphosisOspital ng Palawan and its changesThe Secondary (Level II) and the end referral government hospital inmainland Palawan, Ospital ng Palawan, is currently undergoing a rapidfacelift in terms of infrastructure. With an authorized bed capacity of 100,but with an actual implementing bed of 150, the hospital despite nancialconstraints, exerts all efforts in upgrading its services and facilities.

The Ospital ng Palawan presently offers the residents of Palawan variousservices including clinical laboratory procedures, radiologic, ultrasonographicand dental services, major and minor surgeries, consultations, medicaltreatment of diseases, maternal, child care and orthopedic services.


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Inspired by the DominicanPassion for Truth andCompassion for Humanitycoupled with the determinedinvitation of then BishopVicente Manuel, SVD, DDof the Vicariate of San Jose,Occidental Mindoro, theDominican Sisters of St.Catherine of Siena committedto itself to share the missionof the Vicariate specically inthe healthcare ministry.

Mission usually refers tothe missionary ventures of theChurch and how she respondsto the particular needs andsituation of people. Thesemarked the beginning of St.Martins Mission Hospital asa mission outreach center inSablayan, Occidental Mindoroon November 03, 1993, thefeast of St. Martin de Porres.

From a simple missioncenter, the institution hasemerged to be a primaryhospital catering to thepreventive and therapeutichealth care needs of the peopleof the locality.

It has delivered culturallysensitive health care programfollowing the conditions of the

people it serves. The physicians,nurses and its paramedicalstaff are known to be service-oriented smiling people andcaring professionals.

In its simplicity the hospitalhas been known to deliverquality health care services tothe people of Sablayan and itsneighboring towns.

During the early years ofthis 21st century, the hospitalwent through its grim and darkmoments of uncertainty andstruggle for survival.

As in any mission venture andconsidering that it was a private,non-stock, non-prot hospital,it went through difcult times nancial constraints, licensingrequirements, maintenanceand upkeep of the hospital andmany others.

To nancially survive on

this mission of healing is anexpensive sacrice but theCongregation went on its act ofmission.

In the year 2004, the hospitalhad to undergo major re-organization, a review of itsvision-mission and strategicplanning coupled with theCongregations support through

subsidy.Furthermore, sisters in their

golden years assigned in thehospital spent precious time inprayers in private and with thestaff.

On the latter part of theyear, the hospital was nallygranted its license to operateby the Department of HealthRegion IV-B. Renovation of thehospital which was describedas a major facelift was madepossible through foreignfunding. Training of staff aswell as regular meetings andbrainstorming were done torevive in the staff their sense ofcommitment and dedication forthe healthcare apostolate.

The value of service andmission was awakened inthe hearts of the staff, at thesame time, maintaining their

professionalism and efciency.The Sisters spearheaded inencouraging the staff to givetheir best as this might betheir only chance to serve in amission area.

Slowly but surely, thedifferent ancillary services ofthe hospital were also organized,licensed and accredited.

FEATURES

A Sanctuary of Grace and HealingSt. Martins Mission Hospital: Sr. Mary Fe G. Encarnacion, OP

Year 2009 has been a timeof grace and blessings, St.Martins Mission Hospital wasawarded as the 2009 Centerfor Wellness by CHD RegionIV B MIMAROPA and it wasalso chosen for communityservice award The CommunioAward by the SVD MissionAwards.

Doing mission work at St.Martins Mission Hospitalis both a privilege and aresponsibility.

There is a call to go beyondawards and citations. There is acall that, just as God has blessedus, so may we be a blessing toothers, too.

This is service to life in avery special way; a call to goon caring even when cure isno longer possible; a call to goon serving even if resources

are very scarce. It is a call togo on believing that God illtake care of His people andthat He cannot be outdone ingenerosity.

We are awarded not forwhat we have done but becauseof who God is; not for who weare but for what God has donefor us.


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1

AUTORUN.INF Viruses are virus that uses the Autorun featureof Windows to spread itself on computers. This virus makes acopy of the autorun.inf le to the root or main directory of all the

drives on your PC, internal and/or external disks, to make the virusrun every time the external disks like pendrives or USB driveswere inserted or every time you double-click the drives throughthe Windows Explorer. Known virus variants of this kind are theYahLover (which uses scvhost.exe and killer.exe), Bacalid (whichuses ctfmon.exe), IMGKULOT and FAIZAL.JS virus.

Prevention of Autorun.INF Virus

When you plug an external driveor a pen drive and an Autoplaydialog box appears on your desktop,click on the Cancel button. Whenyou open an external or a pendrive from a window, use the

right button of your mouse overthe removable drive icon and thenclick Open. This will prevent theAutorun.Inf to execute the scriptor command.

You can disable the AUTORUNfeature of Windows by applyinga registry modication on theWindows Registry Editor.

To do this:

Download: DISABLE-AUTORUN.REG from this web link:http://www.bleuken.com/utility/DISABLE-AUTORUN.regand save this le on your computer.

After downloading the le, open the folder where youdownload it and double-click the le. You will be conrmedby Registry Editor if you want to proceed, just click Yesbutton to continue. (If a different message was seen such asRegistry Editing has been disabled by your administrator.possibly your PC is infected already by a virus that preventsregistry access. To correct this you have to remove theAutorun.INF virus manually.)

Restart your computer to apply these changes.

FEATURES

Christ himself carried our sins in His body to the Cross, so

that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by his

wounds that you have been healed.

This verse from the Holy Bible (1 Peter 2:24) was indeed very

timely because 1st week of April, we had our Lenten season

which we commemorated the Passion of Christ. Because of Gods love to us, He was crucied, suffered and died at the

Cross.

Even if the Holy week had already passed, we need to reect.

If we have done something wrong to someone, it could be your

friend, colleague, family, loved one, etc. say sorry to the person.

On the other hand, if somebody has done you wrong, especially

if the person is very hard for her/him to say sorry, then, as true

Christian, show him your love to the person just as Jesus did for

us. Moreover, the word Christian, the name of Christ is clearly

seen in the word. We carry the name of our Creator.

If you forgive others the wrings they have done to you, your

Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive

others, then your Father in heaven will not forgive the wrings

you have done. (Matthew 6:14-15)

Insights

Alicia Vargas

IToMISMO

Ricardo P. Malubag Jr.

SISIPIT

SISIPAT@

Ramonito Martin

Uy SisipAt!Grabe! Sakto ka nanaman, ang haba

talaga ng PAA mo,SISIPIT!

SOBRA ka namanmagsalita. Lahat na

lang, nakikita mo!


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14

FEATURES

In the early 1900s with the Americans colonization, there was afairly high incidence of leprosy in the Philippines and it was decidedthat all lepers would be segregated and sent off to isolation in oneof several locations across the country. One leper colony, a termwhich sounds really horrible, but was a fact of life then, was inwhat is now Naga, Cebu, another was in Manila and a third wasestablished and located on the Island of No Return, or Culion

Island in Northern Palawan in 1906.Not too much was understood about leprosy at the time but fear

of contagion meant that they separated all those already afictedespecially that it was thought then that it was not a curable disease.At its peak, the Culion facility was home to over 5,000 lepers.Families often moved to Culion to be close to one patient, a spouseand children would move to the island to care for the sick spousefor instance and eventually a town formed though it was onlyrecognized as a distinct municipality just a dozen or so years ago.

From a Lepers Colonyto a General Hospitalfrom:

A Parallel Mandate - A Coexistence of Diverse FunctionsDr. Arturo Cunanan, Jr.


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The Way ForwardThe elimination of leprosy as

a public health problem in 1998marked another era in Culionshistory but posted also anotherconcern of looking into therelevance of the sanitaria underlow endemic situation, the role ofthe Department of Health in takingcare of the remaining patientsinside the sanitarium of which theprimary reason is social welfare,or looking into their basic dailyneeds and where public health issecondary.

The decreasing ratio between

the number of health workers topatients in the sanitarium and thedecreasing number of new casesdetected, aroused new challenges onhow to make sanitarium manpowerefcient vis a vis number of casesattended. With all these concerns,all sanitaria were hereby directed topursue a conversion or successionprogram to justify its existence andtransform the sanitarium to caterthe general health needs of thepopulation.

The main issue now is how tomake use of the existing hospital

facilities to address the growinghealth needs and demands of thegeneral population in the areaand to consider the budgets beingprovided to the sanitarium. Bynecessity and for the survival ofthe sanitarium particularly thehealth staff that would be displaced,Culion Sanitarum must undergo ametamorphosis to become a generalhospital aside from functioningsolely as a leprosy sanitarium.

The newpolicy for allDOH retainedhospitals includingthe sanitaria nowfunctioning as a general hospitalto have the capacity to generatehospital income or revenue througha socialized scheme of billing andclassication and the capabilityto utilize such revenue for thehospital operation is a very muchwelcome development and relief forgovernment hospitals.

However, this is a big challengeto Culion, where the geographic

location was basically away from thepopulous areas due to the isolationand segregation policy of leprosyand generally the catchmentspopulation are the poor populacewho would fall on the indigentstatus, thus limiting the earningcapacity of the sanitarium.

In addition to that, the continueduncertainty of what to do withthe remaining patients which forsome policy makers would forhumanitarian reasons continuetaking care till the last Mohicansin as much as the law had violated

their human rights when theywere compulsorily segregated tostay in the colony, while otherswould look into hospital efciency,effectiveness, performance andbudgets and recommended thetransfer of these remaining patientsinto one institution where they willlive till they fade away.

The remaining residents inCulion have aired their dismay andresistance of such transfer, Culion has

beent h e i r

h o m e ,they were

uprooted and separatedand segregated to this island beforeand never again should they bemoved and transferred now thatthey are old.

The future of the sanitaria in thePhilippines like Culion Sanitariumis indeed on the hands of the policymakers, to legislate a law that willprovide an added mandate forthe sanitaria to become a generalhospital. After 12 years lobbying in

congress, Republic Act 9790, an actconverting the Culion Sanitariumin the Municipality of Culionprovince of Palawan into the CulionSanitarium and General Hospitaland appropriating funds thereforewas approved last November 19,2009.

This new mandate has now madeofcial the longtime function ofCulion Sanitarium as a generalhospital on top of it being asanitarium catering to the healthneeds of the island municipalitiesof Culion, Coron, Busuanga and

Linapacan up to El Nido, Taytayand Cuyo, establishing itself as theend referral hospital in NorthernPalawan and the core referralhospital of BCCL (Busuanga CulionCoron Linapacan) Inter LocalHealth Zone.

Culion Sanitarium and GeneralHospital has also a functioningpublic health unit, implementingDOH thrusts and programssupporting RHU in the BusCuCoLin

Inter local Healtzone while at th

same time takincare of the remainin

people affected by leprosthrough custodial care and actinas leprosy referral hospital in thprovince of Palawan and the regiovalidating diagnosis, managincomplications and training.

Paradise RegainedThe success of the lepros

program is not only measured by thstatistics on prevalence nor in casdetection rates, but the true succeof elimination even eradication o

leprosy lies on how individualagency and society would addreand take care of the remaininpeople affected by leprosy whhad the disease long before thadvent of effective drugs (MDTand had experienced the isolatioand segregation and lived long tknow and experience the curabilitof the disease and the complete ansustained transformation of thsanitaria and the community as whole.

Today Culion is now the newemunicipality in the provinc

of Palawan, a community thaevolved from the initial segregatepatients, an offshoot of the succeof the leprosy control programof eliminating leprosy as a publhealth problem in the once hypeendemic Culion Island. Thdedicated and committed efforts othe DOH-Culion Sanitarium havbear fruit and witness in makinthis once Island of the Living Deadinto a Paradise Regained.

FEATURES


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BEST PRACTICES

Such is the constant threat facing our mothers in their every pregnancy. Themunicipality of Cajidiocan is one of the communities that have struggled with its maternaland child health outcome. Poor health-seeking behavior has led to some mothers with no orinsufcient prenatal care preventing them to receive the proper care and counseling as well as the vitaminsupplementation they need.

The rst 2 quarters of 2009 revealed that only 18% of pregnant women sought and has been given qualityprenatal care with at least 4 prenatal check-ups. Home deliveries attended by non-trained health professionalshave been a perennial problem. These challenges led to two maternal mortalities last 2008 and early 2009. Theproblem looms bigger as the poor nancial status of majority of the mothers contributed to poor referrals tohealth units and hospitals since the lack of funds could not pay for the health services especially in the hospitals.

These distressing challenges led to the birth of the Buntis Baby Bank Project. The Buntis Baby Bank project,adopted from the project of the same name of Dr. Chua of Milagros, Masbate, aims to achieve better maternalhealth outcomes by encouraging mothers to avail of complete and quality maternal care thru pre-natal check-ups as well as facilitate post-natal visits. It also contributes in the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortalityby ensuring facility-based deliveries supervised by trained health professionals. Equitable health care nancing

is also achieved thru assisting the mothers in preparing nancially for their delivery.The project was initiated as a result of focus group discussions, headed by the MHO, with all Womens Health

Teams of all barangays. The project functions by assigning a baby bank made up of bamboo to all pregnantmothers seeking prenatal care at the RHU. The baby bank is placed in a highly visible area in the RHU, allowingthe mothers and other people to drop any amount anytime, resulting to accumulated savings until their deliverydate.

A BBB project coordinator or caretaker (nurse, midwife, BHW) constantly reminds the mothers to drop totheir banks. The banking system can also include the mothers relatives, RHU staff, LGU ofcials or any personwilling to drop any amount to the bank. The savings accumulated will be used when the mother reaches herdelivery date with the extra savings to be used postpartum, for the care of the baby, or even to assist the motheravail of the family planning method of her choice (i.e. pills, ligation). Assignment of a baby bank is done duringthe mothers 1st prenatal check-up during her 1st trimester. Mothers consulting during her late 2nd trimesterand 3rd trimester will not be assigned a baby bank.

Thus this agreement between the RHU and the mother encourages seeking of prenatal care as early as the1st trimester. Withdrawal of savings is done upon labor or cases of abortion. Mothers assigned with their babybanks are required to deliver either at the RHU or the hospital. Home deliveries forfeit the mothers withdrawalof her savings.

The project has resulted in better maternal health outcomes as it has encouraged more prenatal visitsespecially from mothers in their 1st trimesters as seen by the 18% to 27.5% increase in the pregnant womenreceiving at least 4 prenatal care. No maternal mortality again occurred since project implementation. Facility-based deliveries have continued to increase from 83% to 92%. The project has presented an initiative towardsproducing equitable health care nancing by means of the banking system that is being made available to themothers.

This health nancing scheme has assisted the mothers to prepare nancially for a safe delivery (averagewithdrawal of 500-600php saved in at least 5 months). It has also resulted in the active involvement of thedifferent barangay health systems thru their Womens Health Teams. The WHT is being utilized in projectimplementation via the active practice and use of the pregnancy tracking forms that has improved themonitoring of the pregnant patients in their respective barangays especially in seeking prenatal consults during

the 1st trimester.Also, because of the active lobbying of the Barangay Kagawad on Health of Barangay Cantagda, their

barangay health station became the 1st to adopt the project at the barangay level. Moreover, LGU

participation has been brought about thru the inclusion of the project in the Municipal Ordinance 09-09on Facility-Based Deliveries of the municipality. As stated in Section 2.3 All punong barangays arealso enjoined to establish Buntis Baby Banks in their Barangay Health Stations to help mothers to savefor delivery. The LGU ofcials have also given their share in adding up to the savings of the pregnantmothers.

Even in the initial implementation of the project, a more responsive health system, both at themunicipal and barangay levels, is already being developed and solidied. The Buntis Baby Bank project has

shown a simple strategy that ensures major results including assistance in neutralizing the poor economicsituation of the mothers.The values of sharing, planning and saving have been developed even if the project is still in its initial

implementation. Community members are also starting to be weaned off from dependence on dole-outs. Mostimportantly self- as well as community empowerment are starting to take their roots.

Buntis Baby BankCajidiocan

ProjectDr.Heidee B. Exconde

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I was fresh out of medical school when I accepted the challenge of serving in a far-ung area inPalawan. My reaction when I rst saw Agutaya on the map was oh no, may kuryente at signal bdiyan? . Back then, I never really told my family where it was because they kept telling that they cannd it on the map.

So, after the grueling 20 hours

journey from Puerto Princesa, myrst reward when I got in Agutayawas the cell site. And the next onewould be the electricity which runs4 pm to 12 midnight.

For over a year now, I have servedas the lone doctor of six islands. Ilived in an area of pristine whitesand beaches where for stretches, itis possible to not see anyone else butyour own shadow. Proof? Amanpulois 30 minutes away from one of theislands. (Ok, to brag a bit, I got theopportunity to stay in one of theirexclusive villas for 4 nights, all forfree). Best of all, my ex-anc and

I had our wedding in one of thosebeaches.

In the area, I get treated withutmost respect and importance.When I visit the island baranggays,I get the feeling that they feed mewith the best that they have. Likehumongous sh inihaw or lobstersfresh out of the sea. In some islands,sh are hard to come by so theyfeed me their precious chickens. Ibecame the keynote speaker in themunicipality high school graduationand a pre-school graduation inthe next municipality. I was alsoinvited to give a career talk to highschool students, in yet anothermunicipality (there are only 3municipalities in my area, hehe!).When you pass by, schoolchildrenwould say moyang damaldamaldoktora (good morning doctora),complete with the gesture of handin the chest and bowing of the head.All of this is quite very humbling.And this respect translates to greateropportunities for service.

In our area, the biggest hurdle

BEST PRACTICES

Dr.Romelei S. Camiling-Alfons

is access. No Jollibee, no market,

limited electricity, limitedtransportation, no hospital, nodrugstore, no laboratory. The lastDTTB to Agutaya was 8 years beforeI came. They had doctors for onlya short time in between but notone really stays put. Patients diebecause they cant be transported tothe clinic or to the hospital. Somepatients die while on transit. WhenI arrived, the clinic was hardlyequipped with emergency tools nogenerator, no oxygen, no medicines.

And all the succeeding rewardswere borne out of these challenges.

Our priority was to equip the

clinic with emergency responsemedicines and equipment.Electricity is a given for manyplaces, but our lack of it havecaused delays in the management ofemergencies like asthma or hackingwounds in the middle of the night.We have installed inverters in theRHU which allowed us to utilize thesolar electricity and run equipmentlike nebulizers and lights evenafter the 12 midnight. Also, wehave distributed generator setsand nebulizers to our staff in theoutstations.

The health status reports alsoreect how service is delivered.We were able to get hand of twolaptop units and printer-scanner-photocopy machine. And I amproud that my staff has been eagerto get their hands on them. (On aside note, we are the only municipalofce that can print and photocopyduring ofce hours because wehave electricity at will. With thepermission of the mayor, this hasbecome income-generating for

us). Before, reports to the PHO

or documents to the CHD wihave to wait for the next boat tripdelaying submissions. Now, my stais internet-savvy and they can senthese via email.

In over a years time, our missionvision setting, target goals anstaff assessment have resulted tdramatic improvement of data anservice delivery. In the next monthwe will be running our two TBDOTS laboratories. Our Botica nBaranggay and BEMOC facilitare underway. We have lobbied tinclude PhilHealth enrollment ithe annual municipal budget, an

for the rst time, funds have beeallocated. And we are now workinon the PhilHealth accreditation oour RHU. Our local health boarhas become active it has become venue for my staff to gain controover the health issues in thmunicipality.

Maybe things would have beedifferent if I chose to be assigned tan easier place. I do not really minbeing away from all the comforbecause I am living my dream jobI do consults and surgeries for freeI found out that I can push peoplto do their best I never knewthat until I became a doctor to thbarrio. All because I am blessewith a committed staff that thegave me the opportunity to leathem despite of my inexperienc(and height). I do not regret thchoice I have made.

As Frederick Buechner said, Thplace God calls you to is the placwhere your deep gladness and thworlds deep hunger meet.

How true this is of me.

My Agutaya ExperienceThe Rewards of Serving in the Barrios:


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Donated by the PHI KAPPAMU International ad Food forKids Cause, medical equipmentwere turned over to six barangayhealth stations (BHS) inCajidiocan, Romblon in aid of theFull Fix project, last March 4.

The six recipient barangayswere Brgy. Taguilos, LubangWest, Danao, Ambalo, Catagda

and Marigondon which wererepresented by their respectivebarangay captains.

The CHD-Local HealthAssistance Division staff whoattended the turn-over ceremony,also expressed to support thetraining component of theBarangay Health Workers for thelast phase of the Full Fix Project.

The Full Fix Project is a petproject of Dr. Heide Exconde,doctor to the barrio (DTTB) toRomblon.

The program implementationconsists of three phases:

formalizing health systems at thebarangay level, providing eachBHS with adequate equipmentand capability building of activeBHWs ad establishing a two-wayreferral system between the BHSand RHUs.

The project aims to revitalizethe thirteen BHS of Cajidiocaninto fully functional BHS andbirthing facilities in identiedbarangays that are able to provide

Spearheaded by the two MunicipalHealth Ofcers from Magdiwang andSan Fernando and one doctor to thebarrio from Cajidiocan launched therst Barangay Health Workers Summitheld last March 25 at the MuncipalSocial Hall, Cajidiocan, Romblon

The activity was attended bybarangay health workers fromthe municipality of Magdiwang,Cajidiocan and San Fernando and threemayors of Sibuyan island, The ofce ofthe congressman and governor werealso properly represented includingCHD IVB.

The summit aimed to give

Representatives from the EuropeanCommission handed over the grant tothe province of Romblon, representedby the ofce of the congressman,governor, provincial health ofce,municipal health ofce and CHD IVB,in the formal handover ceremony inCasa Pilar Resort, Boracay, Malay,Aklan, March 19.

For the past three years, variousstrategies and innovations wereimplemented in Romblon, being anF1 recipient. The provincial LICT andILHZ partners have exerted effortsin conducting planned activitiesadherent to the need of the provincein reference to the four pillars of the

CHD IVB commits trainingcomponent to Full Fix Project

EC hands technical assistancegrant to Romblon province

recognition to the barangahealth workers by boostintheir morale in rendering thevoluntary services to healtprograms of their constituents.

CHD IV B personnel discussealso the benets and incentiveof BHWs stipulated under thRepublic Act of 7883 or otherwisknown as BHW Benets anIncentive Act of 1995.

Key lectures andemonstration in soap makinand other livelihood programwere conducted to augment the

nances.

Sibuyan IHLZ launches rst

Barangay Health Workers Summit

Revitalizing 13 BHS in Cajidiocan, Romblon

Strengthening the four pillars of F1NEWS

F1 program.With the needs and resul

based actions of the provinciaand municipal levels, thnational objective for health werattained.

The assessment of the serviclevel agreement for 200showed improving capactitieand services leading to a morresponsive action this year.

Technical assistance were alshanded down to CHD IVB tensure the gradual takeover oresponsibilities in continuing ansustaining F1 initiatives to thgrassroot level.

complete basic health services in thecommunity.

The highlights of the activitywere the signing of memorandum ofagreement between the municipalgovernment and the residentbarangay captain and renewing thecommitments of the assigned midwife,BHW and others in the managementand sustainability of the provided

medical equipment.

GEARING TOWARDS A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT. Heads of different

government ofces of Region IV B share best practices in environmental

health preservation in the Regional Inter Agency Committee on Environmental

Health held in One Tagaytay Place, March 24-26.

EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. CHD IV B spearheaded the series of Hands-on training for web-based

Philippine Registry for Persons with Disabilities information system in Romblon and BusCuCulin, Palawan.


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Proud Ako!

FAITH ALBERTO, MD

OIC - Assistant Regional Director

URBITO MARCIANO JR., MD

OIC, HEMS

ANNA BI RTHA DATINGUINOO, RN

OIC - Local Health Assistance

and Development Division

LESTER AONUEVO

OIC - Planning and Stascs Unit

JOSE LITO PADUA, RN

OIC - Management Support

and Services Division

MICHAEL ENARBIA, MD

Provincial Health Team Leader,

Occidental Mindoro

ELSA ALBERTO, MD


Oriental Mindoro

LETTICIA VITTO, RN


Marinduque

RUTH CERVO, MD


Romblon

ALI AGAM A, MD


Palawan

DR. FE ALMIRANTE

OIC - Regulaons, Licensing

and Enforcement Division

MA. TERESA CASTILLO, MD

OIC - Health Operaons Division

ARTURO C UNANAN, MD

Chief of Hospital, Culion Sanitarium

and General Hospital

GLORIFINO JUAN, MD

Ospital ng Palawan ANNA BI RTHA DATINGUINOO, RN

Chief of Sta

GLORIA J. BALBOA, MD, MPH, MHA, CEO VI, CESO IIIREGIONAL DIRECTOR


20/20

isla mimaropa - first issue

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