ARMM to revive local health boards across region

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=932322
• Wednesday, October 19, 2016

(PNA), BNB/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY (PNA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) wil reinvigorate local health boards across the region with 19 local government executives and nine local health officials completing two-year, three-module program under the Health Leadership and Governance Program, officials said Tuesday.

Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr, speaking during the "Tapatan sa ARMM," a weekly news conference program, said the local executive and health officials received program certificates of completion during graduation rites at Heritage Hotel in Pasay City last week.

He explained that the program, dubbed “ARMM Colloquium: Moro Leaders in ARMM as Champions thru Health Leadership,” was primarily aimed at training local chief executives and health officers in every local government unit to become responsive leaders capable of addressing the health needs of their constituents.

“We are grateful to the Zuellig Family Foundation for giving us a chance to prove our worth and develop our homegrown champions,” Sinolinding Jr., ARMM health secretary, told "Tapatan" participants.

The foundation was established in the Philippines in 1997 by the Zuellig family, which is engaged in pharmaceutical business as well as other ventures.

The program "graduates" have expressed willingness and commitment to reinvigorate the function of local health boards in the provinces of Maguidnanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, according to Dyan Sangkula Jumaide, ARMM’s Health department assistant secretary.

According to Sinolinding, some of the local leaders who benefited the program have shared their acts of leadership in health for their constituents.

Mayor Rahiema Salih of Tandubas town in Tawi-Tawi, said as town mayor she can attend to the health needs of her constituents.

"Mayor ako, may resources ako (I am the mayor, I have the resources),” she said. "But I realized that I need to coordinate and cooperate with local health leaders, especially the health front liners," Mayor Salih said.

Representing ARMM Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman, Dr. Sinolinding said: "ARMM used to be the example to show what not to do in government. Today, the ARMM is referred to as a model for empowered and decentralized governance."

Sinolinding added that improved delivery of health services has always been a priority in the region.

"In recent years, the ARMM has installed rural health units in 105 of the 116 municipalities and two cities in the region," Sinolinding reported.

He said within the same period, he added, the regional government increased the number of PhilHealth cardholders by 80 percent, from 834,153 to 1.5 million.

“We also increased the number of PhilHealth-accredited units by 85 percent, from only 47 in 2012 to 87 in 2014,” said Dr. Sinolinding.

"Making health services accessible to all is key in improving the quality of life in the region, especially in the island provinces," Sinolinding said.