DOH-ARMM Health Assembly

DAVAO CITY – Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque, III and Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao led today ARMM local government officials, health officials and local and foreign development partners in a three-day ARMM Health Assembly held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel here.

The health assembly aims to ensure commitment and active participation of all stakeholders and other partners in the improvement of health state of ARMM populace; to recognize stakeholders and health partners to work on the present goal of improving the health of ARMM people to include key officials, local chief executives, development partners; and to identify and share good practices of each municipality of local government unit.

It also highlighted the official launching of the ARMM-wide Investment Plan for Health (AIPH), the blue print of the region’s health program for the next three years ( 2009 -2011), according to DOH-ARMM Secretary Tahir Sulaik.

Provincial governors from the region’s five provinces and more than one hundred mayors were also asked their support to the region’s comprehensive health program which, Sulaik said, “will change the health profile of the region.

Sulaik admitted that ARMM remains at the bottom from other regions of the country in terms of health conditions of its constituents. He attributed it to the lack of health facilities such as hospitals, rural health units, barangay health stations and other necessary facilities for the more than four (4) millions population of the region.

According to Sulaik in his “State of the ARMM Health Address”, Sulaik said 2008 data shows that ARMM registered a very high incidence of mortality rate compared to other regions in the country. He also attributed the poor ARMM health conditions to the prevailing peace and order situation in the area.

Since July 2008, more than 300 thousand residents of the region, most of them are in Maguindanao province, have been displaced by the on-going war between the Philippine government military and the rebel forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

On April 23 this year, Duque and Ampatuan signed in Manila a memorandum of agreement (MoA) for their commitment of partnership to support the effective implementation of the AIPH, a P6.2 billion comprehensive health program of ARMM.

The MoA embodies the support of the DOH National office to the AIPH which also contains the “Fourmula One”, the comprehensive health program of the national government.

In his message, Gov. Ampatuan lauded the efforts of the DOH-ARMM in organizing the health assembly, even as he urged the local government officials to extent full support to the regions health program.

“I encourage the local government units in the provinces and municipalities to extend the same courtesy and support to DOH-ARMM being part of the health sector.” “I honestly believe that for ARMM or any political unit for that matter to progress and develop, you need a sound and healthy community of people working together for the common good and welfare of all,” Ampatuan said.

He also expressed gratitude to the national government through the DOH for its continuing support for the development of the region.

Duque announced that some P267.9 million funds are allocated by the DOH national for 2009 to support the health programs and initiatives of ARMM. Of the said amount, P60 is intended to support the priority health programs, plans and activities under the AIPH. The amount is in addition to the P17 million earlier released by DOH during the April 23 MoA signing. P107.9 million is allocated for commodities such as TB drugs, Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI) vaccines and micronutrient supplement and P100 million is allocated for the provision of potable water supply in ARMM provinces in the form of grants implemented through the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

“Today, as we hold this joint health summit, I have high hopes that we can finally bring sustainable and lasting improvements in the lives of our people here in Muslim Mindanao. Health will be finally be a reality for the thousands of poor in ARMM for whom healthcare has remained elusive over the past years,” Duque stressed.

Duque said the multiple crises in health which DOH continue to face in ARMM region prompted the department to call the development partners and other stakeholders to give focus and commitment towards speedy health development, better financing, good governance and reform in the effective and efficient delivery of health services in the ARMM.

The provincial governors and municipal mayors in attendance also vowed to support the AIPH. (bpi-armm)