Three of the Pasig City local government's offices received two accolades from the Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD) on Friday, Oct. 14, for having the best sanitation and anti-dengue programs in the National Capital Region (NCR).
“All credit goes to our very hard working City Health Department, Sanitation Office, Anti-Dengue Task Force, and other offices who have contributed to these programs,” said Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.
The awarding ceremony took place at the Manila Hotel and was led by Gloria Balboa, director IV of the DOH-MMCHD.
During the 35th anniversary of the Department of Health (DOH) - MMCHD, local government departments were awarded for their “exemplary performances in the implementation of environmental and sanitation practices towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
Each award came with a cash reward worth P150,000 from the Treasury of the Philippines, and the Landbank of the Philippines. The local government received P300,000 for its two awards.
Anti-dengue
The Pasig Anti-Dengue Task Force expressed gratitude for being awarded the “Best Aedes-Borne Viral Diseases (Anti-Dengue) Prevention and Control Program.”
“Patuloy kaming makikiisa sa layunin maging malusog ang ating pamayanan at komunidad (We will continue to support objectives that will lead to a healthier city and community),” the task force said in a social media post.
The city’s anti-dengue campaign focuses on practicing the “4S drive” in dengue prevention and control.
4S refers to search and destroy (breeding places), self protection measures (such as use of long sleeves and mosquito repellants), seek early consultation (when fever, rashes, headaches, vomiting and other symptoms arise), and support environmental measures (referring to fogging and misting operations).
On May 24, three teams from the Anti-Dengue Task Force were deployed in time for the rainy season, said Mayor Sotto.
Their fogging and misting operations were held in conjunction with the daily Oplan Kaayusan programs wherein city government departments visit various barangays to conduct declogging, road repairs, tree-trimming, repainting, and other activities.
Through their efforts, dengue cases in the city have decreased by around 60 percent as of June 2022 compared to 2021, said Dr. Stewart Santos, head of the Anti-Dengue Task Force, during the flag raising ceremony last June 6.
Sanitation
The Pasig Environmental Sanitation Office won the category for “Best Sanitation Program of 2022.”
Its nomination was first announced during the flag raising ceremony at the city hall on Sept. 19.
Back in 2021, the sanitation office was recognized by the DOH as the “Most Improved Local Government Unit (LGU) for Environmental Health Services” among the other 17 LGUs in Metro Manila.
Sotto has hailed the office for being “very proactive” in its efforts from inspection of public areas and establishments to disinfection of government and public facilities.
The sanitation office works closely with other affiliated departments such as the Solid Waste Management Office (SWMO), the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), and the City Engineering Office, in conducting community disinfection.
They have also built a robust program that produces information, education, and communication (IEC) materials for the public, properly authorizes establishments adhering to sanitary permit requirements, and enforces local health and safety policies.
Universal Health Care
Aside from the two awards, the MMCHD also recognized Pasig City’s efforts towards the full implementation of universal healthcare (UHC), an initiative that Sotto has advocated for since his first term as mayor.
The local government has ramped up its programs towards achieving UHC this year, after more than two years of stalled progress due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Amid the pandemic, the local government needed to retrofit their existing services to cope with the demands of Covid-19.
As the country loosened its pandemic protocols and regulations, the focus of Sotto’s new term has been on strengthening “primary or preventive healthcare” led by the City Health Department.
In support of the UHC campaign, three newly renovated health centers – one in Barangay San Miguel, and two in Barangay Palatiw – were opened.
Health facilities and centers in the city are constantly being improved and worked on to be eligible for PhilHealth accreditation.
The local government is adopting the “zero balance billing” program of Philhealth. Funds from the local government have been allotted in support of the initiative in order to shoulder patients’ expenses in their period of confinement in public hospitals within the city.
Last March 24, a joint venture agreement for the Pasig City Mega Dialysis Center (MDC) was signed in partnership with Premier 101 Healthcare Management, Inc.
It will house 116 dialysis machines, which will make it one of the biggest dialysis centers in the country.
Dialysis services at the MDC will be free, and shouldered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the medical assistance program of the Malasakit centers, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).