Programs of department of health (doh) essay sample

1. Provision of Potable Water Program (SALINTUBIG Program – Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat)
I. PROFILE/ RATIONALE OF THE HEALTH PROGRAM
Provision of safe water supply is one of the basic social services that improve health and well-being by preventing transmission of waterborne diseases. However, about 455 municipalities nationwide have been identified by NAPC as waterless areas that are having households with access to safe water of less 50% only. As a result, diarrhea and other waterborne diseases still rank among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines. The incidence rate for these diseases is high as 1, 997 per 100, 000 population while mortality rate is 6. 7 per 100, 000 populations. The Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat Program (SALINTUBIG) is one of the government’s main actions in addressing the plight of Filipino households in such areas. The program aims to contribute to the attainment of the goal of providing potable water to the entire country and the targets defined in the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 Millennium Development Goals (MDG), and the Philippine Water Supply Sector Roadmap and the Philippine Sustainable Sanitation Roadmap. To attain this objective, One Billion and Five Hundred Million Pesos (Php 1, 500, 000, 000) is appropriated to the DOH through Item B. I. a of the 2011 General Appropriations Act (GAA). The appropriation is a grant facility for LGU to develop infrastructure for the provision of potable water supply.

A. OBJECTIVES
1. To increase water service for the waterless population 2. To reduce incidence of water-borne and sanitation related diseases 3. To improved access of the poor to sanitation services B. TARGETS

1. Increased water service for the waterless population by 50% 2. Reduced incidence of water-borne and sanitation related diseases by 20% 3. Improved access of the poor to sanitation services by at least 10% 4. Sustainable operation of all water supply and sanitation projects constructed, organized and supported by the Program by 80%.

2. Health and Well-being of Older Persons

Rationale
The proportion of older persons is expected to rise worldwide. In the 1998 World Health Report, there were 390 million older people and this figure is expected to increase further (WHO). This growth will certainly pose a challenge to country governments, particularly to the developing countries, in caring for their aging population. In the Philippines, the population of 60 years or older was 3. 7 million in 1995 or 5. 4% of total population. In the CY 2000 census, this has increased to about 4. 8 million or almost 6% (NSCB). At present there are 7M senior citizens (6. 9% of the total population), 1. 3M of which are indigents. With the rise of the aging population is the increase in the demand for health services by the elderly. A study done by Racelis et al (2003) on the share of health expenditure of Filipino elderly on the National Health Account, the elderly are “ relatively heavy consumers of personal health care (22%) and relatively light consumers of public health care (5%).” From out-of-pocket costs, the aged are heavy users of care provided by medical centers, hospitals, non-hospital health facilities and traditional care facilities.

Cognizant of the growing concerns of the older population, laws and policies were developed which would provide them with enabling mechanisms for them to have quality life. RA 9257 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003 (predecessor of RA 9994) provided for the expansion of coverage of benefits and privileges that the elderly may acquire, including medically necessary services. Parallel to this objective is the Department’s desire to provide affordable and quality health services to the marginalized population, especially the elderly, without impeding currently pursued objectives and alongside health systems reform. One of the provisions of RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens act of 2010 is for the DOH to administer free vaccination against the influenza virus and pneumococcal diseases for indigent senior citizens. The DOH in coordination with local government units (LGUs), NGOs and POs for senior citizens shall institute a national health program and shall provide an integrated health service for senior citizens. It shall train community – based health workers among senior citizens health personnel to specialize in the geriatric care and health problems of senior citizens.

3. Unang Yakap (Essential Newborn Care: Protocol for New Life)

It is diligently the adoption of the new policy standards in newborn care following the implementation of Health Reforms for Rapid Reduction in Maternal and Newborn Mortality. It is to counter effect the Philippine’s steady figures in neonatal mortality for the past 10 to 20 years showing a non- existent of difference despite previous efforts in improving health status indicators.

The composition of Unang Yakap Campaign involves the correction of previous insufficient interventions in newborn care through evidenced based protocols; which was mandated under the Administrative Order (AO) 2009-0025. The AO specified the details of provision of care during birth until the first 6 hours of life; aiming to guide health care providers and to define the role of public health units in the implementation of the new protocol. The ENC assumed by Unang Yakap Campaign utilizes evidenced based interventions which follow: a. A systematic sequence of actions;

b. Organized to prevent interruption of timely- bound care;
c. And to fill in gaps for the package of bundled interventions in a guideline format.

REACTION:
I, as a student nurse, was amazed because the government is actually working on health promotions although I am quite distressed on other healthcare services, in reference to DOH programs with acronyms like GMA 50(Gamot na Mabisa at Abot Kaya) or PhilHealth’s GMA 500 have become part of the national patronage system to magnify the personal power of the incumbent president. It cheapens the dignity of our healthcare system and its workers when they are made to peddle political gimmicks like the National Food Authority’s GLORIA LABANDERA mobile foodstalls.