Iloilo City, UK ink better health drive

ILOILO City Government's health initiatives have gotten boost with the help of United Kingdom.

This, after British Ambassador Daniel Pruce and Mayor Jerry Treñas virtually signed a Better Health Programme (BHP) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UK and City Government last September 17.

"The MOU supports strengthening of local public health system. It is a great milestone that underlines enduring linkages between UK and Iloilo City, and deepens our partnerships with LGUs in the Philippines," British Embassy Manila stated on its Facebook page.

The MOU kicked off the implementation of UK's Global BHP in the country until 2022.

Adopting a sub-national level approach in engaging with the government, six areas have been identified for implementation: Panay Island, Oriental Mindoro, Tarlac and Leyte provinces and cities of Pasig and Cebu.

BHP focuses on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), promotion of digital health and legislative and capacity-building support for the implementation of the recently-passed Universal Health Care law.

Both parties seek to cooperate under common interests anchored on UK's Global BHP, which forms part of Prosperity Fund (PF).

PF is a strategic development assistance fund of UK government allocated to high impact, multi-year programs in countries that have potential for inclusive growth and market development.

"The Global BHP aims to address growing burden of NCDs such as heart disease and diabetes. It also aims to strengthen local health system structures by creating systems to improve quality of care," according to its website www.gov.uk. (PR)