SECOND DOH SULONG KALUSUGAN CARAVAN PROVIDES SERVICES TO TINGGUIANS OF NUEVA ERA
The Department of Health – Ilocos Region conducted its second health caravan known as “Sulong Kalusugan Para sa Mga Katutubo” serving the “Tingguian Tribes” in Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte on July 20, 2023. Undersecretary of Health for Field Implementation and Coordination Team (FICT)
North and Central Luzon Eric A. Tayag stated that the health caravan is an exemplary effort of the DOH – Ilocos regional office in reaching and improving the health of indigenous cultural communities or indigenous people (ICC/IP) and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) in Ilocos region.
“Ang health caravan po na ito ay bunga ng pagtutulungan ng iba’t-ibang ospital sa rehiyon kasama ang mga ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno at lokal na pamahalaan ng Ilocos Norte upang maibigay sa ating mga katutubong ‘Tingguian’ ang mga pangunahing serbisyong pangkalusugan na kinakailangan nila upang hindi na sila pumunta pa sa malayong ospital para makapagpahamot.”
“Layunin po ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan na maibigay ang mga serbisyomg pangkalusugan sa mga nangangailangan sa lalong madaling panahon. Walang dapat na maiwanan, lahat ay dapat mabigyan ng pagkakataong makapagpagamot,” Tayag strongly emphasized.
The caravan provided consultation and health services from nutrition, oral health, mental health, basic consultation, PHILPEN Risk Factor Screening, diabetic retinopathy screening, cervical cancer screening, immunization, TB active case finding, family planning, hearing test, and health education. DOH also turned over HerbMAP packages, nutribox for pregnant women, adolescent health kits, buntis kits, mental health kits, V/S monitoring kits, and reading glasses.
A total of five (5) BHS packages consisting of a dressing cart, EENT diagnostic set, instrument cabinet, fetal doppler, medicine cabinet, minor surgical instrument set, weighing scale with BMI calculator were also turned-over to barangays Uguism, Acnam, Cabittauran, Garnaden and Sto.Nino to fully equip the barangay health stations and be able to provide primary care services at the community level safely and effectively. Scholarships for eligible Tingguian students who want to take up Allied Health Courses like midwifery, pharmacy, and medical technology were also offered.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco added that assistive devices for PWDs like 24 wheelchairs, 5 commode chairs with wheels, 10 canes, 5 adult walkers, 5 pairs of crutches for adult and 5 crutches for pedia for mobility. “Ginagawa po naming ang health caravan na ito upang mabigyan ng dekalidad na serbisyong pangkalusugan ang ating mga katutubo sa ating rehiyon and also to improve their health seeking behavior by encouraging them to go to health centers when they are sick for them to be given proper treatment and care.” “Kailangan nilang malaman ang ating pamahalaan ay laging nakaantabay upang sila ay maalagaan at maiangat ang antas ng kanilang pamumuhay,” Sydiongco said.
The health caravan targeted 1,500 Tingguians to be given various health services. Tingguian was derived from the word Tingue or mountaineers, referring to “The People of the Mountains”. The first “Sulong Kalusugan Caravan para sa mga Katutubo” was held in Sison, Pangasinan on April 21, 2023. The health caravan was conducted in partnership with the local government of Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte, the Provincial Government Unit of Ilocos Norte, the Provincial Health Office, National Commission on Indigenous People – Region 1, DOH-retained hospitals including Ilocos Training, Regional Medical Center, Conrado F. Estrella Regional Medical and Trauma Center and Region 1 Medical Center, Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center of La Union and Dagupan City, the Philippine Dental Association of Ilocos Norte and Philippine Medical Society of Ilocos Norte.
GLEN S. RAMOS-CMU/DOH- Ilocos Region
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