Health Status and Programs Implemented by the Provincial Government of Catanduanes in Bicol Region, Philippines

Abstract

As the world grapples with various health threats and pandemics, implementation and assessment of the delivery of health services especially in emerging economies is vital to promote health accessibility, coverage, quality and continuity. This study determined the status in the actual service delivery on health implemented in the Rural Health Units (RHU) of Catanduanes, a typhoon-prone area in the Philippines facing the vast Pacific Ocean. The mixed-methods of research were employed in the study primarily using documentary analysis, Key Informant Interview (KII) and focus group discussions (FGD). Results show that there was an increasing trend for the past four years in the incidence of preventable diseases, such as hypertension, trauma, all types of wounds and upper urinary tract infection and increasing rate in pre-natal mortality even when infant deliveries were no longer permitted at home but, rather, done in hospitals or RHU with basic emergency maternal obstetric and neonatal care (Bermonc) facilities; and an increasing rate in the incidence of diseases in infant mortality which can be associated to hygiene, (e.g. diarrhea). The provincial government, in response to identified gaps in health programs of the province, crafted a Province-wide Investment Plan for Health (PIPH) that transformed local plan into multi-sectoral endeavor that involved unified efforts of all the sectors. However, despite all the efforts, there are still cases identified in the health status indicators like pre-natal mortality that remain to be high. Health Programs of the department of health (DOH) being implemented along with to service delivery of the RHU in the 11 towns of the province include intensified disease prevention and control; child health; maternal health; lifestyle and risk prevention; and health promotion and advocacy.