THE Commission on Appointments confirmed on Wednesday the appointment of Health Secretary Janette Garin three months after she was nominated to the position by President Benigno Aquino III.

Under her watch, Garin said the Department of Health (DOH) is planning to implement the Hi-5 or High Impact Health services program that focuses on maternal and infant health, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) control, and the establishment of service delivery networks.

“I bring to DOH my experience in working with local communities. My experience with the grassroots highlighted the need for a sense of ownership and partnership by the locality for national programs to succeed. I am confident the DOH will be able to initiate and sustain mutually beneficial partnerships with our local executives for the success of DOH programs,” said Garin at her confirmation hearing.

Prior to her appointment as DOH chief, Garin was undersecretary for the women, children and family health cluster.

She became an Acting Secretary in November 2014 after then Health Secretary Enrique Ona went on leave for over a month until he resigned amid the investigation on the DOH's purchase of anti-pneumonia vaccine.

She was representative of Iloilo’s first district from 2004 to 2013. (Sunnex)