KALIBO, Aklan – The preventive aspect of healthcare in the province is being strengthened through the partnership with Municipal Health Officers (MHOs), Gov. Florencio Miraflores said.
Miraflores revealed this during his recent State of the Province Address – witnessed by provincial and local officials, heads and representatives of national government agencies, provincial department heads, non-government organizations, and the media.
According to Miraflores, the increase in maternal deaths in Aklan is a serious concern of his administration. He added that from five cases in 2017 to 11 cases in 2018 and six cases in the middle of this year is
“One strategy to combat this is to make our municipal birthing facilities functional. I would like to thank our municipal mayors in answering this call. We have already increased our total number of accredited birthing facilities from 8 in 2016 to 11 this year,” he said.
He also lauded the Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), the frontline workers, for playing a vital role in decreasing maternal deaths, by tracking mothers and making sure that they go to health facilities for pre-natal check-up, delivery and postpartum care.
In appreciation of their valuable contribution to Aklan’s healthcare system, Governor Miraflores said he will be increasing the BHWs’ allowance from P3,600 to P4,800 a year, and additional P1,000.00 incentive for them if they have good performance in making sure that Aklan mothers will have safe pregnancies.
“A thorough prenatal examination must also be done in every visit of our mothers. Hence, I have ordered the procurement of fetal Doppler machines for all our hospitals, and ultrasound machines for our district hospitals. This is to ensure that our mothers will have better access to these services in their nearby hospitals and don’t have to go to our provincial hospital,” he said.
Miraflores also revealed the investment done by the province for the provincial hospital – the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, by constructing another three-storey building to house the new Outpatient Department and the fully air-conditioned adult and pedia wards.
The province has also established a blood bank so patients will have a ready supply of blood when needed instead of going to Roxas City for blood processing.
Services such as mammogram, 2D Echo and CT scan were also added.
He said that he has received reports that cite negative experiences of patients who seek health care services from health workers.
“I understand this is a long-term process of behavioral change, but we started by engaging with the Makati Medical Center Foundation, through their strategic enhancement and educational development program for our nurses. In this program, the Chief Nurse of the Makati Medical Center, together with her team, trained all our nurses on how to care for our patients with empathy and compassion”, he said.
The governor added “this is a great challenge for all the health workers to apply what they have been privileged to learn from the experts and transform our hospitals into a positive environment for healing.”
Prior to citing the gains of his leadership during his SOPA, the governor thanked the Aklanons for bestowing on him the trust and confidence in his brand of governance through all the years, by renewing his mandate last May 13, which he said will be his inspiration to push for more developmental innovations and completion of pending programs on his last term.
Miraflores served as governor for three consecutive terms that is from 1995 to 2004, then as representative of the Lone District of Aklan for three consecutive terms, and voted again as governor from 2013 to date. (With a report from PIA/PN)
