MAGUINDANAO – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), through its special Humanitarian and Development Assistance Program (HDAP), turned over Friday various medical equipment and health facilities to the town of Mamasapano here.
Julkarnain Abas, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH)-ARMM, said among the health facilities are two rural health units, 18 barangay health stations, 11 communal toilets, 11 deep wells with elevated water tanks, and P7.5 million worth of medical equipment.
“Malaking tulong po ito in terms of our programs in health. Marami po itong matutulungan dahil hindi na kailangan lumuwas pa papuntang Poblacion dahil kung mayroon na silang paanakan sa lugar, malaking bagay na yun,” said Mamasapano Mayor Benzhar Ampatuan.
Dr. Ariff Baguindala of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) Maguindanao, thanked ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman for the program and said this will benefit many people in the town.
“Ang ating dictum ay since the people cannot reach the health facilities, we are reaching out to the community – tayo na ang lumalapit sa community. Health care now becomes more accessible to Mamasapano residents,” he said.
Abas sees the importance of the newly established health infrastructures in decreasing the mortality rate in the town’s far-flung areas. “Kung titignan natin ang datos ng DOH, isa sa malaking problema ng kalusugan ay yung facility-based deliveries kaya malaking boost nito sa ating mga services sa health sector,” he said.
ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia also urged citizens, especially the women, to optimize the use of barangay health stations and rural health units. “Mahalaga bilang babae itong mga ito dahil magiging malapit na yung access at magiging mas mabilis angdelivery sa birthing facility lalo sa mga buntis,” she said.
She also said the regional government is building a P100-million additional hospital facility in Maguindanao. “Eventually, kapag natapos na ang hospital annex ngMaguindanao IPHO ay magagamit din ng mga tao – that is a P100-million facility.”
“Kailangan matapos natin yan lahat bago magtapos ang ARMM at ma-setup ang BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao),” Alamia said in anticipation of the change in Bangsamoro region’s government.
ARMM-HDAP is the region’s special program that implements various government initiatives that promote peace and help the situation in calamity-affected communities specifically the 15 Maguindanao towns inside the so-called ‘SPMS Box’, a former conflict area.
Projects under ARMM-HDAP include school buildings, houses, health centers, roads and bridges, and provision of livelihood programs. (Bureau of Pubic Information)
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