Mayoral candidates on health

Churchill Aguilar

THIS is my second installment on my attempt to inform our readers about the plans and visions of our mayoral candidates. Once again, I would like to thank XU-GLI for hooking me up with the three leading candidates. Let it be noted that I have only given them a limit of 200 words to share their take on major issues that beset our city. Such limitation will only therefore give us a glimpse of how they plan to bring us to the next level.

Question: With the growing number of urban poor, how do you plan to provide sustainable health services for Cagay-anons?

Mayor Oca: “A responsive health system requires trained personnel, well-maintained infrastructure, reliable supply of medicines and equipment, strong health insurance financing and well-grounded plans and policies. We will do the following:

“1. Contribute to the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals which include the reduction of child and infant mortality, improve maternal health and combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Our health centers are already accredited under the Maternal Care Package which offers prenatal care and normal birth delivery for free.

“2. Our ultimate goal for the JR Borja General Hospital is to upgrade it into a Level 3 Medical Center. We have upgraded and improved JRBGH in partnership with the DOH, Philhealth, PCSO and the private sector.

“3. Long-term goals in curative care include the establishment of specialty centers like the Lung Center, Kidney Center and Heart Center.

“4. Provide financial protection by enrolling people to Philhealth and maximize the availment of the national government programs for indigents such as the NHTS and the 4Ps.

“5. Empower Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars by providing trainings and increasing their compensation and benefits

“6. Strengthen the Service Delivery Network and complement  the current health management and personnel with additional practitioners.”

Congressman Rufus: “I have strongly pushed for the nationalization of the JR Borja General Hospital because this will mean better facilities and a bigger budget from the National Government. If this happens, the city’s budget for JR Borja Hospital can then be used to construct and maintain a District Hospital in Lumbia for District 1 and in Tablon for District 2.

“I will also implement Republic Act 10677, which came about because of my House Bill 00031 that doubles the capacity of NMMC from 300 beds to 600 beds.

“We will also have a mental health facility and we will construct and renovate more Barangay Health Centers. All of these are part of my 10-Point Agenda.

“In ‘Team Rufus Harus,’ we have Doctor Leo Navarro and Dures Tagayuna of District 1 and Kapitan Omar Labuntog, who has been active in looking after the health of the people of Lapasan, that could effectively help in implementing these projects.

“If you have more questions on my 10-Point Agenda or any comments and concerns, you can send me a message in my official Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/RufusBRodriguez.”

Former Mayor Dongkoy: “I believe in a two-pronged approach: preventive and curative.

“We will resume our focus on informing and educating the public on disease prevention, on improving health and hospital services, as well as on supporting fruit and vegetable production. We have worked closely with the national government on these approaches and will resume our close collaboration.

“The new building of the JR Borja General Hospital (JRBGH) is actually the implementation of a project proposed and approved under my administration.

“I will continue to work to equip the hospital with equipment and facilities accessible to the public, especially those who cannot afford the medical care that they need.

“As to health insurance for the poor, I am not one to reinvent the wheel just to put my personal stamp on a system, especially if it works. We will review and study this and introduce improvements or changes only if necessary.”

Health is wealth. A healthy population is a strong workforce and would therefore surely translate to economic growth. Not only that, the Local Government Code also mandates it as one of the frontline functions of every local government unit. For as long as I can remember, our health services in the country has always been found wanting. It is just too expensive for ordinary people who would rather die in their homes than in a health facility because they simply can’t afford it. Ironically it is our right and our government is duty bound to provide us health care.

You have read their take. Who do you think can truly deliver their promises on health?