THE Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM) will construct 100 barangay health stations (BHS) across the region this year to ensure that all far-flung areas in BARMM will have access to healthcare.
Dr. Rizaldy Piang, MOH minister, made the announcement on Thursday, February 23, 2023, during the inauguration ceremony of the two newly-built BHS in the villages of Barorao in Balabagan town and Salamen in Kapatagan, both in Lanao del Sur province.
Funded under the ministry's Tiyakap Bangsamoro Kalusugan Program (TBKP), each of the BHS was worth P2.5-million, with an additional P500,000 fund for equipment.
“Tumatakbo ang gobyerno natin, tumutugon doon sa pangangailangan ng mga Bangsamoro especially sa health at laging andito ‘yung ating mga health workers na mag-lingkod sa ating komunidad (Our government is running, responding to the needs of the Bangsamoro especially in health and our health workers are always here to serve our community),” Piang said.
Dr. Alinader Minalang, Lanao del Sur Integrated Provincial Health Officer, said they are committed to strengthen the health services in the province to ensure that no one will be left behind in terms of healthcare.
“Napakalaking tulong ito (BHS) sa ating mga kababayan dahil ito’y magiging avenue na maka-access sila sa iba’t ibang serbisyong pang-kalusugan (This (BHS) is of great help to our countrymen because it will be an avenue for them to access various health services),” Minalang said.
Among the services offered at the BHS are pre-natal and childbirth for mothers, vaccination for children, medicines, health education, and others.
“Malaking tulong itong BHS na ipinatayo sa aming barangay, lalong-lalo na sa mga bata na nagkakasakit at sa mga buntis kasi napakalayo po namin sa hospital ‘yung po ang halaga ng health station na ito (This BHS that was built in our barangay is a big help, especially to children who are sick and to pregnant women because we are very far from the hospital),” said Belal Beda, village chief of Salamen, Kapatagan.
Prior to the inauguration ceremony, Piang also visited the Lanao del Sur Integrated Provincial Health Office to consult the personnel on their issues and concerns and so the MOH would know what proper support to give to them and to the province as a whole. (SunStar Zamboanga)