LOCAL chief executives from different municipalities and cities in Misamis Oriental gathered for an orientation and dialogue on priority health outcomes in the province at a hotel in Cagayan de Oro City, Tuesday, November 26.
The activity aims to hear all health-related problems from each areas that need to be addressed through the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC).
Misamis Oriental was chosen as a pilot province for the UHC implementation.
"We need to have a tool, a mechanism, a policy that will going to help us bring the population ng Pilipinas including Misamis Oriental to our vision — to be among the healthiest in Southeast Asia by 2020 and the whole of Asia by 2044. This is a challenge for MisOr, this is really a journey," Department of Health (DOH)-Northern Mindanao Director Dr. Adriano Suba-an said.
During the dialogue, it was discussed that among several health-related problems, the province should focus its intervention on maternal health, tuberculosis, rabies and childhood diarrhea.
Governor Yevgeny Emano asked for the local government units' cooperation for the success of the health programs.
"This time, limtan sa nato ang nagkadaiyang kolor sa pulitika ug ihatag nato ang tinuoray nga panerbisyo sa katawhan," Emano said.
Provincial Health Leadership and Governance Program manager Jerry Jose, for his part, said he was overwhelmed by the sincerity of the governor.
He said that the province, through Emano's leadership, will "move together towards something new."
"We’re very thankful for the opportunity to help, and seeing him very authentic and with his work that’s coming from the heart," Jose said.
The participating local chief executives also expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to air out their suggestions concerning the implementation of the UHC.
“This is a good start. In behalf sa LMP MisOr mapasalamaton kaayo mi with this effort. Kay if we start right, we will really end right. Gikinahanglan gayud kini ang panag-uban ug panag-abag sa tanan. In fact we are really emotional kay wala mi nag-expect nga apilon mi sa plano sa inani nga perspective ni Governor Emano to include everyone in this decision and planning time," Magsaysay Mayor Rey Buhisan said.
A series of dialogues on health programs are scheduled until the UHC is fully implemented in Misamis Oriental.