THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental through the Provincial Health Office recognized top performing local government units and hospitals providing health programs and services on its first awarding ceremony at the Bacolod Business Inn.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson in his message prior to the awarding ceremony said that medical care is not a trade good and there should be no choice between illness and good health for the Negrenses and cited the role of health workers and health service providers as front runners of the goal of having good public health.
“As a developing country, access to health care, health care facilities and hospitals have been among the foremost issues besetting our country, but you persevered and made your best efforts to be responsive to the healthcare needs of our people,” Lacson told the awardees.
Awards were divided into five clusters namely Health Information, Health Emergency and Disaster Management Program, Non-Communicable Diseases, Communicable Diseases and Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child Adolescent Health and Nutrition Cluster.
For the Health Information Cluster, awardees include: Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital, Bago City Health Office, Moises Padilla Rural Health Unit, Hinoba-an Rural Health Unit, Murcia Rural Health Unit, Kabankalan City Health Office, San Carlos City Health Office, Victorias City Health Office, and Hinigaran Rural Health Unit.
Ignacio L. Arroyo Sr. Memorial Hospital, South Negros Interlocal Health Zone, Midland Interlocal Health Zone, Sagay City Health Office and Binalbagan Rural Health Unit were recognized for their Health Emergency and Disaster Management Program.
The Binalbagan Rural Health Unit, San Carlos City Health Office, Talisay City Health Office, Bago City Health Office and Himamaylan City Health Office were awardees for the Non-Communicable Disease Cluster.
Communicable Diseases Cluster awardees were Pulupandan Rural Health Unit, Cadiz City Health Office, La Carlota City Health Office, Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital, Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospital, Bago City Health Office, Escalante City Health Office, Silay City Health Office, Talisay City Health Office, Victorias City Health Office, Moises Padilla Rural Health Unit, Hinobaan Rural Health Unity, Isabela Rural Health Unit;
Don Salvador Benedicto District Hospital, Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital, Kabankalan City Health Office, La Carlota City Health Office and San Enrique Rural Health unit.
While for the Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child Adolescent Health and Nutrition Cluster awardees include Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital, Alfredo E. Marañon Memorial District Hospital, Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital, San Carlos City Hospital, Toboso Rural Health Unit, Hinoba-an Rural Health Unit, Sagay City Health Office, San Carlos City Health Office, Silay City Health Office, Sipalay City Health Office, La Carlota City Health Office, Victorias City Health Office, Kabankalan City Health Office, Murcia Rural Health Unit, Calatrava Rural Health Unit, Victorias City Health Office, Candoni LGU, San Enrique LGU, and EB Magalona Rural Health Unit.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang said the challenge now to the health care providers is to prepare for the Universal Health Care implementation.
“We only have one province – Negros Occidental. We take care of it and we are also dreaming that we will be a top performing province in the regional level in terms of health services,” Tumimbang added as he urged awardees to work harder to attain this goal. (PR)