BRINGING HEALTHCARE TO EVERY VILLAGE, WORKPLACES, SCHOOLS

June 8, 2025 Provincial

DOH PuroKalusugan:

BAGUIO CITY

The Department of Health (DOH) is expanding its PuroKalusugan to every village, schools and workplaces. The PuroKalusugan is part of the DOH’s Eight-Point Action Agenda , aimed at delivering essential healthcare services directly to residents of “puroks” or barangay zones nationwide. Under this health initiative, Filipinos can receive free medical services, including maternal and child healthcare,
immunization programs, water, sanitation, and hygiene education, nutrition support and wellness education, tuberculosis (TB) and HIV
control programs, chronic disease prevention (diabetes, hypertension, etc.), and dental and vision care.

For Cordillera, the program focuses on eight key health problems. These include vaccinations, nutrition, clean water and sanitation, mother and child health, tuberculosis and HIV testing, road safety, chronic disease prevention, and cancer care. “We want to bring health
services right to the people and stop them from traveling long distances for care,” Dr. Annacris Kilakil, Medical Officer IV of DOH-CAR said during a recent forum here. She emphasized the program works in coordination with local government units (LGUs) to plan health activities and make sure services reach everyone.

Dr. Kilakil explained that many barangays in Cordillera are considered “unserved” or “underserved,” meaning they have very limited or no health workers. To fix this, DOH sends more nurses and midwives to these areas. “We prioritize those who need help the most,” she said.
The official added that under the program health workers conducts regularl visits and services in barangays located in mountainous and isolated areas of Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, and Abra. Health teams hold these activities monthly or as needed depending on the location. Of the 276 target sites, 166 are in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) according to DOH-CAR’s data as of March 2025.

Reanne Gretchelle P. Columbres/ Noel Celeste – UC Interns