1. Adolescent and Youth Health and Development Program (AYHDP)

In line with the global policy changes on adolescents and youth, the DOH created the Adolescent and Youth Health and Development Program (AYHDP) which is lodged at the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDPC) specifically the Center for Family and Environmental Health (CFEH). The program is an expanded version of Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) element of Reproductive Health which aims to integrate adolescent and youth health services into the health delivery systems.

The DOH, with the participation of other line agencies, partners from the medical discipline, NGOs and donor agencies have developed a policy on adolescent and youth health as well as complementary guidelines and service protocol to ensure young peoples’ health needs are given attention.

The Program shall mainly focus on addressing the following health concerns regardless of their sex, race and socioeconomic background:

·         Growth and Development concerns Nutrition Physical, mental and emotional status

·         Reproductive Health Sexuality Reproductive Tract Infection (STD, HIV/AIDS) Responsible Parenthood Maternal & Child Health

·         Communicable Diseases Diarrhea, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, Measles, Malaria, etc.

·         Mental Health Substance use and abuse

·         Intentional / non-intentional injuries Disability

Vision: Well-informed, empowered, responsible and healthy adolescents and youth.

Mission: Ensure that all adolescent and youth have access to quality health care services in an    adolescent and youth friendly environment.

Goal: The total health, well-being and self-esteem of young people are promoted.

Objectives: By the year 2004

Health Status Objectives:

·         reduce the mortality rate among adolescents and youth

Risk Reduction Objectives:

·         reduce the proportion of teenage girls (15-19 years old) who began child bearing to 3.5 % (baseline-7% in 1998 NDHS)

·         increase the health care – seeking behavior of adolescents to 50% (baseline: still to be established)

·         increase the knowledge and awareness level of adolescent on fertility, sexuality and sexual health to 80% (baseline: still to be established)

·         increase the knowledge and awareness level of adolescents on accident and injury prevention to 50% (baseline: still to be established) Services and Protection Objectives:

·         Increase the percentage of health facilities providing basic health services including counseling for adolescents and youth to 70%. (baseline- still to be established)

·         establish specialized services for occupational illnesses, victims of rape and violence, substance abuse in 50% of DOH hospitals

·         Integrate gender-sensitivity training and reproductive health in the secondary school curriculum.

·         Establish resource centers or one stop shop for adolescents and youth in each province.

2. Botika ng Barangay (BnB)

Refers to a drug outlet managed by a legitimate community organization (CO/non-government organization (NGO) and/or the Local Government Unit (LGU), with a trained operator and a supervising pharmacist specifically established in accordance with Administrative Order No. 144 s.2004. The BnB outlet should be initially identified, evaluated and selected by the concerned Center for Health Development (CHD), approved by the National Drug Policy-Pharmaceutical Management Unit (NDP-PMU 50), and specifically licensed by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) to sell, distribute, offer for sale and/or make available low-priced generic home remedies, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and two selected, publicly-known prescription antibiotic drugs (i.e. Amoxicillin and Cotrimoxazole).

The BnB program aims to promote equity in health by ensuring the availability and accessibility of affordable, safe and effective, quality, essential drugs to all, with priority for marginalized, underserved, critical and hard to reach areas.

3. Promotion of Breastfeeding program / Mother and Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (MBFHI)

Realizing optimal maternal and child health nutrition is the ultimate concern of the Promotion of Breastfeeding Program. Thus, exclusive breastfeeding in the first four (4) to six (6) months after birth is encouraged as well as enforcement of legal mandates.

The Mother and Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (MBFHI) is the main strategy to transform all hospitals with maternity and newborn services into facilities which fully protect, promote and support breastfeeding and rooming-in practices. The legal mandate to this initiative are the RA 7600 (The Rooming-In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992) and the Executive Order 51 of 1986 (The Milk Code). National assistance in terms of financial support for this strategy ended year 2000, thus LGUs were advocated to promote and sustain this initiative. To sustain this initiative, the field health personnel has to provide antenatal assistance and breastfeeding counseling to pregnant and lactating mothers as well as to the breastfeeding support groups in the community; there should also be continuous orientation and re-orientation/ updates to newly hired and old personnel, respectively, in support of this initiative.

4. Blood Donation Program

By virtue of RA 7719 otherwise known as the "National Blood Services Act of 1994" the Department of Health in cooperation with the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and Philippine Blood Coordinating Council (PBCC) and other government agencies & non-government organizations is mandated to plan and implement a National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP). A National Voluntary Blood Services Program Committee was then created and chaired by the Secretary of Health.

Objectives:

·         to promote and encourage voluntary blood donation by the citizenry and to instill public consciousness of the principle that blood donation is a humanitarian act;

·         to provide, adequate, safe, affordable and equitable distribution of supply of blood and blood products;

·         To mobilize all sectors of the community to participate in mechanisms for voluntary and non-profit collection of blood.

Mission: To ensure safe, adequate, accessible and rationally-used blood supply operates with a separate PS/MOOE/CO Budget.

 5. Philippine Cancer Control Program

It begun in 1988, is an integrated approach utilizing primary, secondary and tertiary prevention in different regions of the country at both hospital and community levels. Six lead cancers (lung, breast, liver, cervix, oral cavity, colon and rectum) are discussed. Features peculiar to the Philippines are described; and their causation and prevention are discussed. A recent assessment revealed shortcomings in the Cancer Control Program and urgent recommendations were made to reverse the anticipated ‘cancer epidemic’. There is also today in place a Community-based Cancer Care Network which seeks to develop a network of self-sufficient communities sharing responsibility for cancer care and control in the country.

6. Child Health

The Philippine National Strategic Framework for Development for Children or CHILD 21 is a strategic framework for planning programs and interventions that promote and safeguard the rights of Filipino children. Covering the period 2000-2005, it paints in broad strokes a vision for the quality of life of Filipino children in 2025 and a roadmap to achieve the vision.

Children's Health 2025, a subdocument of CHILD 21, realizes that health is a critical and fundamental element in children's welfare. However, health programs cannot be implemented in isolation from the other component that determines the safety and well-being of children in society. Children's Health 2025, therefore, should be able to integrate the strategies and interventions into the overall plan for children's development.

The period year 2002 to 2004 will put emphasis on timely diagnosis and management of common diseases of childhood as well as disease prevention and health promotion, particularly in the fields of immunization, nutrition and the acquisition of health lifestyles. Also critical for effective planning and implementation would be addressing the components of the health infrastructure such as human resource development, quality assurance, monitoring and disease surveillance, and health information and education.

Vision: A healthy Filipino child is:

·         Wanted, planned and conceived by healthy parents

·         Carried to term by healthy mother

·         Born into a loving, caring, stable family capable of providing for his or her basic needs

·         Delivered safely by a trained attendant

·         Screened for congenital defects shortly after birth; if defects are found, interventions to correct these defects are implemented at the appropriate time

·         Exclusively breastfed for at least six months of age, and continued breastfeeding up to 2 years

·         Introduced to complementary foods at about six months of age, and gradually to a balanced, nutritious diet

·         Protected from the consequences of protein-calorie and micronutirent deficiencies through good nutrition and access to fortified foods and iodized salt

·         Provided with safe, clean and hygienic surroundings and protected from accidents

·         Properly cared for at home when sick and brought timely to a health facility for appropriate management when needed.

·         Offered equal access to good quality curative, preventive and promotive health care services and health education as members of the Filipino society

·         Regularly monitored for proper growth and development, and provided with adequate psychosocial and mental stimulation

·         Screened for disabilities and developmental delays in early childhood; if disabilities are found, interventions are implemented to enabled the child to enjoy a life of dignity at the highest level of function attainable

·         Protected from discrimination, exploitation and abuse

·         Empowered and enabled to make decisions regarding healthy lifestyle and behaviors and included in the formulation health policies and programs

·         Afforded the opportunity to reach his or her full potential as adult

Goal: The ultimate goal of Children's Health 2025 is to achieve good health for all Filipino children by the year 2025.

Medium-term Objectives for year 2001-2004

Health Status Objectives

·         Reduce infant mortality rate to 17 deaths per 1,000 live births

·         Reduce mortality rate among children 1-4 years old to 33.6% per 1000 live births

·         Reduce the mortality rate among adolescents and youths by 50%

Risk Reduction Objectives

·         Increse the percentage of fully immunized children to 90%

·         Increase the percentage of infants exclusively breastfed up to six months to 30%

·         Increase the percentage of infants given timely and proper complementary feeding at six months to 70%

·         Increase the percentage of mothers and caregivers who know and practice home management of childhood illness to 80%

·         Reduce the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition among school-age children

·         Increase the health care-seeking behavior of adolescents to 50%

Services and Protection Objectives

·         Ensure 90% of infants and children are provided with essential health care package

·         Increase the percentage of health facilities with available stocks of vaccines and esential drugs and micronutrients to 80%

·         Increase the percentage of schools implementing school-based health and nutrition programs to 80%

·         Increase the percentage of health facilities providing basic health services including counseling for adolescents and youth to 70%

Strategies and Activities

·         Enhance capacity and capability of health facilities in the early recognition, management and prevention of common childhood illness

·         Strengthening community-based support systems and interventions for children's health

·         Fostering linkages with advocacy groups and professional organizations and to promote children's health

7. Dengue Control Program

The thrust of the Dengue Control Program is directed towards community-based prevention and control in endemic areas.

Major strategy is advocacy and promotion, particularly the Four O’clock Habit [0] which was adopted by most LGUs. This is a nationwide, continuous and concerted effort to eliminate the breeding places of Aedes aegypti. Other initiatives are the dissemination of IEC materials and tri-media coverage.

8. Diabetes Mellitus Prevention Program

The long range national plan for the prevention and control of diabetes mellitus shall provide for:

·         the development of strategies and programs, including awareness campaigns and the continuing education of health personnel and concerned individuals, to prevent diabetes mellitus and its complications

·         the adoption of cost-effective and appropriate screening methods for the detection of diabetes mellitus in its early or pre-symptomatic stages

·         the investigations into the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of diabetes mellitus

·         the evaluation of measures employed, including drug and diet therapies, in the control of diabetes mellitus

·         the establishment of mechanisms to reduce the socio-economic impact of diabetes mellitus on affected individuals and families

·         the granting of incentives and support for organizations of affected individuals and families;

·         the establishment of coordinated health systems, which shall involve clinicians, researches, allied health professionals, community — based health workers and lay volunteers, for dealing with diabetes mellitus and its complications

·         the participation of local government units, alongside with concerned government agencies and non-government organizations, in the implementation of programs on diabetes prevention and control

·         the periodic review of research needs and potential in the control of diabetes mellitus;

·         the systematic utilization of public and private resources to achieve the objectives enumerated above

9. Dental Health Program   

Comprehensive Dental Health Program aims to improve the quality of life of the people through the attainment of the highest possible oral health. Its objective is to prevent and control dental diseases and conditions like dental caries and periodontal diseases thus reducing their prevalence.

Targeted priorities are vulnerable groups such as the 5-12 year old children and pregnant women. Strategies of the program include social mobilization through advocacy meetings, partnership with GOs and NGOs, orientation/updates and monitoring adherence to standards.

To attain orally fit children, the program focuses on the following package of activities: oral examination and prophylaxis; sodium fluoride mouth rinsing; supervised tooth brushing drill; pit and fissure sealant application; a-traumatic restorative treatment and IEC. The Program also integrates its activities with the Maternal and Child Health Program, the Nutrition Program and the Garantisadong Pambata activities of the WHSMP.

10. Doctors to the Barrios (Dttb) Program

The general objective is to provide the country with competent Medical Human Resource who will render quality medical care to patients.

Other Objectives:

·         To ensure quality health care service to depressed, marginalized and underserved areas through the deployment of competent and community-oriented doctors.

·         To effect changes in the approach to health care delivery by the stakeholders in health

The following areas will be given priority:

·         Depressed, unserved/underserved, hard to reach and critical 5th and 6th class municipalities without doctors for at least two years.

·         Depressed, unserved/underserved, hard to reach and critical 5th and 6th class municipalities with MHO/RHP on study leave.

·         3rd and 4th class municipalities needing additional doctors to achieve the doctor to population.

11. Emerging Disease Control Program

Emerging infectious diseases are newly identified and previously unknown infections which cause public health problems either locally or internationally. These include diseases whose incidence in humans have increased within the past two decades or threaten to increase in the near future.

National agencies and LGUs in the Philippines are able to respond appropriately to threats and incidences of emerging and re-emerging infections through the institutionalized systems for disease surveillance, epidemiological investigation and epidemic response in the DOH and the long-established interagency disaster response mechanisms. Protocols for surveillance, case investigation, outbreak investigation, contact tracing and response have been defined.

The inherent unpredictability of the occurrence of a variety of previously known infections and unknown diseases can limit the responsiveness of even the most organized health system.

12. Environmental Health

Environmental Health is concerned with preventing illness through managing the environment and by changing people's behavior to reduce exposure to biological and non-biological agents of disease and injury.  It is concerned primarily with effects of the environment to the health of the people.

Program strategies and activities are focused on environmental sanitation, environmental health impact assessment and occupational health through inter-agency collaboration.  An Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental Health was created by virute of E.O. 489 to facilitate and improve coordination among concerned agencies.  It provides the venue for technical collaboration, effective monitoring and communication, resource mobilization, policy review and development.  The Committee has five sectorial task forces on water, solid waste, air, toxic and chemical substances and occupational health.

Vision: Health Settings for All Filipinos

Mission: Provide leadership in ensuring health settings

Goals: Reduction of environmental and occupational related diseases, disabilities and deaths through health promotion and mitigation of hazards and risks in the environment and worksplaces.

Strategic Objectives:

·         Development of evidence-based policies, guidelines, standards, programs and parameters for specific healthy settings.

·         Provision of technical assistance to implementers and other relevant partners

·         Strengthening inter-sectoral collaboration and broad based mass participation for the promotion and attainment of healthy settings

13. Expanded Program on Immunization

Children need not die young if they receive complete and timely immunization. Children who are not fully immunized are more susceptible to common childhood diseases. The Expanded Program on Immunization is one of the DOH Programs that has already been institutionalized and adopted by all LGUs in the region.

Objective:

·         to reduce infant mortality and morbidity through decreasing the prevalence of six (6) immunizable diseases (TB, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and measles).

Principles:

·         Based on epidemiological situation; schedules are drawn on the basis of the occurrence and characteristics epidemiological features of disease.

·         whole community rather than individual is to be protected ,thus mass approach is utilized

·         immunization is a basic health service and such it is integrated into the health services being provided for by the rural health unit

·         Routine immunization schedules for infants

14. Family Planning

A national mandated priority public health program to attain the country's national health development: a health intervention program and an important tool for the improvement of the health and welfare of mothers, children and other members of the family. It also provides information and services for the couples of reproductive age to plan their family according to their beliefs and circumstances through legally and medically acceptable family planning methods.

The program is anchored on the following basic principles:

·         Responsible Parenthood which means that each family has the right and duty to determine the desired number of children they might have and when they might have them. And beyond responsible parenthood is Responsible Parenting which is the proper upbringing and education of children so that they grow up to be upright, productive and civic-minded citizens.

·         Respect for Life. The 1987 Constitution states that the government protects the sanctity of life. Abortion is NOT a FP method

·         Birth Spacing refers to interval between pregnancies (which is ideally 3 years). It enables women to recover their health improves women's potential to be more productive and to realize their personal aspirations and allows more time to care for children and spouse/husband, and;

·         Informed Choice that is upholding and ensuring the rights of couples to determin the number and spacing of their children according to their life's aspirations and reminding couples that planning size of their families have a direct bearing on the quality of their children's and their own lives.

Vision: Empowered men and women living healthy, productive and fulfilling lives and exercising the right to regulate their own fertility through legally and acceptable family planning services.

Mission: The DOH in partnership with LGUs, NGOs, the private sectors and communities ensures the availability of FP information and services to men and women who need them.

Goals: To provide universal access to FP information, education and services whenever and wherever these are needed.

Objectives

General: To help couples, individuals achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood and improve their reproductive health.

Specifically, by the end of 2004:

Reduce:

·         MMR from 172 deaths 100,000 LB in 1998 to less than 100 deaths/100,000 LB

·         IMR from 35.3 deaths/1000 livebirths in 1998 to less than 30 deaths/1000 live births

·         TFR from 3.7 children per woman in 1998 to 2.7 chidren per woman

Increase:

·         Contraceptive Prevalence Rate from 45.6% in 1998 to 57%

·         Proportion of modern FP methods use from 28>2% to 50.5%

Strategies

·         Frontline participation of DOH-retained hospitals

·         Family Planning for the urban and rural poor

·         Demand Generation through Community-Based Management Information System

·         Mainstreaming Natural Family Planning in the public and NGO health facilities

·         Strengthening FP in the regions with high unmet need for FP: CAR, CHD 5, 8, NCR, ARMM

·         Contraceptive Interdependence Initiative

15. Food and Waterborne Diseases Prevention and Control Program

Food and Waterborne Diseases (FWBDs) are among the most common causes of diarrhea. In the Philippines, diarrheal diseases for the past 20 years is the number one cause of morbidity and mortality incidence rate is as high as 1,997 per 100,000 population while mortality rate is 6.7 per 100,000 population. From 1993 to 2002, FWBDs such as cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and other food poisoning/foodborne diseases were the most common outbreaks investigated by the Department of Health. Also, outbreaks from FWBDs can be very passive and catastrophic. Since most of these diseases have no specific treatment modalities, the best approach to limit economic losses due to FWBDs is prevention through health education and strict food and water sanitation.

The Food and Waterborne Disease Prevention and Control Program (FWBDPCP) established in 1997 but became fully operational in year 2000 with the provision of a budget amounting to PHP551,000.00. The program focuses on cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and other foodborne emerging diseases (e.g. Paragonimiasis). Other diseases acquired through contaminated food and water not addressed by other services fall under the program.

16. Food Fortification Program

The Food Fortification program is the government's response to the growing micronutrient malnutrition, which have been prevalent in the Philippines for the past several years.

Food Fortification is the addition of Sangkap Pinoy or micronutrients such as Vitamin A, Iron and/or Iodine to food, whether or not they are normally contained in the food, for the purpose of preventing or correcting a demonstrated deficiency with one or more nutrients in the population or specific population groups.

Mission: To provide an umbrella channel for implementing the national food fortification strategy for the elimination of micronutrient malnutrition at the soonest possible time.

Goal: To provide DOH with a seal of acceptance for fortified food products, particularly for commonly consumed foods that could contribute at least an additional 50% to the recommended daily allowance of micronutrients to target populations, by the year 2004. 

Objectives: 

·         To encourage food manufacturers particularly of commonly consumed foods as rice, sugar, edible oil, flour, salt and condiments, to fortify their products with one or more of the three essential micronutrients, vitamin A, iron and iodine, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the DOH.

·         To make the public aware of the availability of fortified foods and to encourage their consumption, by strengthening public awareness of the SPS Program and public confidence in products carrying the Sangkap Pinoy Seal.

·         To provide a vehicle for public-private sector collaboration on technology, promotions, research, monitoring and surveillance, and other activities that will lead to the success of food fortification as a strategy for the elimination of micronutrient malnutrition.

17. FOURmula One

FOURmula ONE for Health is the implementation framework for health sector reforms in the Philippines for the medium term covering 2005-2010. It is designed to implement critical health interventions as a single package, backed by effective management infrastructure and financing arrangements.

FOURmula ONE for Health engages the entire health sector, including the public and private sectors, national agencies and local government units, external development agencies, and civil society to get involved in the implementation of health reforms. It is an invitation to join the collective race against fragmentation of the health system of the country, against the inequity of healthcare and the impoverishing effects of ill-health. With a robust and united health sector, we can win the race towards better health and a brighter future for generations to come.

Over-all Goals:

The implementation of FOURmula ONE for Health is directed towards achieving the following end goals, in consonance with the health system goals identified by the World Health Organization, the Millennium Development Goals, and the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan:

·         Better health outcomes;

·         More responsive health system; and

·         More equitable healthcare financing.

General Objective:

            FOURmula ONE for Health is aimed at achieving critical reforms with speed, precision and effective coordination directed at improving the quality, efficiency, effectiveness and equity of the Philippine health system in a manner that is felt and appreciated by Filipinos, especially the poor.

Specific Objectives: Fourmula One for Health will strive, within the medium term, to:

·         Secure more, better and sustained financing for health;

·         Assure the quality and affordability of health goods and services;

·         Ensure access to and availability of essential and basic health packages; and

·         Improve performance of the health system

18. Garantisadong Pambata

            Garantisadong Pambata is a campaign to support various health programs to reduce childhood illnesses and deaths by promoting positive child care behaviors. It ensures that all children below five years old receive health services needed by them to be healthy.

Garantisadong Pambata is a bi- annual week-Iong delivery of a package of health services to children between the ages of 0-59 months old with the purpose of reducing morbidity and mortality among under five through the promotion of positive values for proper child growth and development.

Objectives:

·         To advocate for the importance of providing preschool children with a specific package of care and services for their health, nutrition and well- being.

·         To mobilize all local government units and other partners in health to participate in the week Iong campaign and prioritize health.

·         To announce that the package of health information and services are available at all health centers and outpatient department of hospital anytime and not only on the GP week campaign period.

GP is an opportunity to:

Eliminate/eradicate certain diseases like measles, poliomyelitis and neonatal tetanus

·         Prevent micronutrient (vitamin A, iron, iodine) malnutrition

·         Prevent helminthiasis

·         Improve dental health

·         Promote breastfeeding

·         Promote fortified roods

·         Promote safe and educational toys

·         Promote child rearing practices

·         Promote mental health to children

19. GMA 50/Parallel Drug Importation

Health care is central to the concept of development and that a health policy of conscious intervention through public agencies is required in order to reach certain basic health objectives. In order to achieve these health objectives provisions for the basic requirement of preventive, promotive and curative health care services must be top priority.

An essential component of a health policy includes measures to promote the rational use of drugs and ensure the availability of medicines of adequate quality at a reasonable price. To date the cost of medicines in the Philippines remains hign and is even higher by 40% to 70% compared to other ASEAN countries. Moreover, our budget for drugs and medicines is too small to procure sufficient quantities of low-cost, essential drugs for the population in need.

Goal: To ensure that affordable, high quality, safe and effective drugs and medicines are always available, especially to the poor.

The strategies that GMA 50 will employ are:

Short-term

·         Continue the importation of high quality, safe, effective and affordable drugs and medicines for as long as the prices in the country remain high.

·         Expand, as appropriate the list of drugs and medicines for importation. The list will contain essential drugs needed to treat the prevailing causes of morbidity and mortality.

·         Increase the number of outlets. Initially, the outlets will be limited to public health facilities

·          

Medium and Long-term

·         Promote the use of Generic drugs and medicines.

·          Ensure continuous supply of high quality, safe, effective and affordable drugs and medicines, whether imported or locally manufactured

·         Develop reimbursement scheme for medicines with PhilHealth

·         Work with the pharmaceutical industry/organization/companies for them to reduce significantly the prices of drugs and medicines.

·         Work with the local retail industry for them to pass on to the consumers the low price of drugs and medicines, and

·         Wage war versus substandard drugs.

20. Human Resources for Health Network

The Human Resources for Health Network (HRHN) is a multi-sectorial organization in the Philippines that is composed of government agencies and non-government organizations with the aim of addressing and responding to HRH issues and problems. The Department of Health (DOH) spearheaded the creation of this network which was formally established during its launching and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding among its member organizations last October 25, 2006.  

Vision: Collaborative partnerships for a better, more responsive and globally competitive HRH.

Mission: The HRHN is a multi-sectoral organization working effectively for coordinated and collaborative action in the accomplishment of each member organization’s mandate and their common goals for HRH development to address the health service needs of the Philippines, as well as in the global setting.

Values: Upholds the quality and quantity of HRH for the provision of quality health care in the Philippines.

Objectives:

·         Facilitate implementation of programs of the HRHMP that would entail coordination and linkage of concerned agencies and organizations;

·         Provide policy directions and develop programs that would address and respond to HRH issues and problems;

·         Harmonize existing policies and programs among different government agencies and non-government organizations;

·         Develop and maintain an integrated database containing pertinent information on HRH from production, distribution, utilization up to retirement and migration;

·         Advocate HRH development and management in the Philippines.

21. Healthy Lifestyle Program

The mandate of the Department of Health is to promote and protect health lifestyles. For common understanding, healthy lifestyle has been operationally defined as a way of life that promotes and protects health and well-being. This would include practices that promotes health such as healthy diet and nutrition, regular and adequate physical activity and leisure, avoidance of substances that can be abused such as tobacco, alcohol and other addicting substances, adequate stress management and relaxation; and practices that offer protection from health risks such as safe sex and responsible parenthood.

Our goal is to reduce the toll of morbidity, disability and premature deaths due to lifestyle related diseases. One of the components of the major strategies employed will be health promotion, across the life course and prevention of the emergence of the risk factors in the first place. This is where a serious campaign on healthy lifestyle would be most relevant. Thus the development and installation of the National Healthy Lifestyle Program in the Department of Health

Goal

Reduce prevalence of lifestyle diseases particularly cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

General Objective

Reduce prevalence of major risk factors specifically smoking, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet and nutrition.

Specific Objective

·         Develop the program components of the National Healthy Lifestyle Program

ü  Tobacco Control Program

ü  Lifestyle Physical Activity Program

ü  Healthy Diet and Weight Control Program

ü  Stress Management Program

ü  Control of Alcohol Use Program

·         Launch a Comprehensive Healthy Lifestyle Advocacy and Health Promotion Campaign:

ü  Exercise regularly

ü  Eat a healthy diet everyday

ü  Watch your weight / Weight control

ü  Don't smoke

ü  Manage stress

ü  Have a regular health check-up

·         Institutionalize the promotion of healthy lifestyle in local government units.

·         Quality assurance through Sentrong Sigla.

·         Support research on behavior change and best practice on the promotion of healthy lifestyle.

22. Health Sector Development Program

           

            The Philippines has been making steady progress in improving the health status of its population despite the modest economic growth compared to regional standards and the high population growth. Poverty headcount and economic inequality remain high and are major determinants for unequal health outcomes.  Access to health services is inequitable because of financial barriers to care for the poor and the unequal distribution of health care capacity. This led to the launching of the Health Sector Reform Agenda (HSRA) in 1999.

HSDP is an umbrella program of the HSRA – it will advocate, design, initiate and evaluate specific interventions at the national level and in selected pilot provinces to support the HSRA. The project will translate health policy reforms into strategic changes in corporate cultures and in concrete improvements in health services delivery which are expected to result in more affordable and better quality health care and increased utilization of health resources.

23. Knock-out Tigdas

Knock-out Tigdas 2007 is a sequel to the 1998 and 2004 “Ligtas Tigdas” mass measles immunization campaigns. This is the second follow-up measles campaign to eliminate measles infection as a public health problem.

Objective

The Knock-out Tigdas is a strategy to reduce the number or pool of children at risk of getting measles or being susceptible to measles and achieve 95% measles immunization coverage. Ultimately, the objective of KOT is to eliminate measles circulation in all communities by 2008.

24. Leprosy Control Program

Vision: To eliminate Leprosy as a human disease by 2020 and is committed to eliminate leprosy as a public health problem by attaining a national prevalence rate (PR) of less than 1 per 10,000 population by year 2000. Its elimination goals are: reduce the national PR of <1 case per 10,000 population by year 1998 and reduce the sub-national PR to <1 case per 10,000 population by year 2000.

Program thrust is towards finding hidden cases of leprosy and put them on Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT), emphasizing the completion of treatment within the WHO prescribed duration.

Strategies: Case-finding, treatment, advocacy, rehabilitation, manpower development and evaluation.

25. Malaria Control Program

            Malaria Situation in the Philippines Malaria is a rural disease and is one of the important mosquito-borne diseases affecting far-flung barangays (villages) of the country.  Out of the 79 provinces nationwide, 57 are malaria endemic.  This poses a huge economic, social and health burden to 11 million people who are at risk of malaria.  These areas are among the poorest in the country, belonging to the 5th - 6th class municipalities where access to and availability of basic health services and correct health information, remain difficult for the people at risk.  This creates a huge and constant challenge to the health deliverers and movers of the Malaria Control Program.

Vision: A malaria-free Philippines by 2020

Strategies

·         Early diagnosis and prompt treatment

·         Vector control - insecticide-treated mosquito net as main vector control strategy, complemented by indoor residual spraying

·         early management and disease surveillance

·         monitoring and evaluation - drug and insecticide resistance monitoring; drug quality

26. Measles Elimination Campaign (Ligtas Tigdas)

Measles outbreaks continue to occur periodically even with a good immunization program. Some children are missed during routine immunization and some of the immunized children fail to develop antibodies. Both groups, which accumulated in number each year, will become susceptible to measles and if not vaccinated will maintain a circulation of the virus which eventually will be sufficient to cause an outbreak.

Goal: To interrupt the circulation of measles virus in the community and eliminate the disease from the Philippines.

Major Components:

·         Sustained routine infant vaccination

·         Mass vaccinations during Ligtas Tigdas.

·         Follow-up mass vaccinations  

·         Improved measles surveillance

27. National Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control Program

An estimated 16.7 million - or 29.2% of total global deaths - result from the various forms of cardiovascular disease (CVD), many of which are preventable by action on the major primary risk factors: unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and smoking. More than 50% of the deaths and disability from heart disease and strokes, which together kill more than 12 million people each year, can be cut by a combination of simple, cost-effective national efforts and individual actions to reduce major risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and smoking.

28. National Filariasis Elimination Program

Goal: To eliminate Filariasis as a public health problem in the country

The Department of Health is heeding the global call for eliminating of Filariasis as a public health problem. The National Filariasis Control Program (NFCP) has shifting its program strategies from control to elimination, and henceforth it shall be known as the “National Filariasis Elimination Program (NFEP)”. The elimination initiative was further strengthened with the signing of the Executive Order No. 369 in 2004, establishing the National program for eliminating Lymphatic filariasis and devoting the whole month of November of every year for mass treatment of affected communities. A further boost to the elimination of the disease was stipulated in the DOH document, the FOURmula One for Health, which pushes for health sector reforms including the so-called “Disease-Free Zones Initiative” wherein Filariasis is among the targeted diseases for elimination. The elimination of Filariasis is an opportunity that must not be missed.

29. National Mental Health Program               

            The Philippines is one of the world's most heavily populated countries. Even though democracy was restored in 1986 after years of occupation and dictatorship, a high level of poverty still exists and malnutrition and communicable diseases continue to be the main cause of morbidity. For almost 50 years people with mental disorders have been treated in a mental hospital setting. The National Mental Health Program aims to establish psychiatric wards in university and private hospitals and encourage community-based mental health care.

30. Natural Family Planning

A national mandated priority public health program to attain the country's national health development: a health intervention program and an important tool for the improvement of the health and welfare of mothers, children and other members of the family. It also provides information and services for the couples of reproductive age to plan their family according to their beliefs and circumstances through legally and medically acceptable family planning methods.

Religious institutions play a significant role in the context of culture as they affect social and political organizations, as well as individual behavior. Particularily, the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) is an extremely powerful body, both domestically and internationally. With regard to family planning, the RCC has been an effective player in debates, providing the determinant voice in policy, and thus affecting the lives and the well-being of millions. "Among the many institutions that seek to influence population policies, the RCC is arguably the most controversial and least understood." Through its efforts to halt condom distribution, AIDS education programs or eliminate specific reference to family planning methods in UN documents, the RCC merits scrutiny.

31. Newborn Screening Program

            Newborn screening is an organized process of identifying medical conditions in newborn babies that, if untreated, can cause developmental delays, serious illness, or even death. Generally, these conditions cause no symptoms in the first days of life. Screening programs have therefore been developed to identify and treat babies with these conditions before permanent damage occurs. In the United States, these programs are usually mandated by state public health laws.

Disorders Screened

·         CH (Congenital Hypothyroidism)

·         CAH (Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia)          

·         GAL (Galactosemia)  

·         PKU (Phenylketonuria)          

·         G6PD Deficiency

32. Nutrition

The Philippine government is committed to virtually eliminate VAD

·         ECCD Law: DOH role is to ensure Vitamin A supplementation

·         Administrative Order No. 3-A, s. 2000: Guidelines of Vitamin A and Iron Supplementation

·         Therapeutic supplementation: all cases of VAD

·         Preventive supplementation:

ü  Universal - children 6-59 months

ü  Regular/routine - Pregnant and Lactating women, High-risk children

ü  Supplementation during emergencies

Food Fortifcation

The Food Fortification program is the government's response to the growing micronutrient malnutrition, which is prevalent in the Philippines for the past several years.

Sangkap Pinoy or micronutrients are vitamins and minerals required by the body in very small quantities. These are essential in maintaining a strong, healthy and active body; sharp mind; and for women to bear healthy children.

Nutrition surveys since 1993 have been showing increasing prevalence of micronutrient malnutrition, particularly that of Vitamin A Deficiency Disorder (VADD) and Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) among children and women of reproductive age, who are the most at-risk groups to micronutrient malnutrition.

Garantisadong Pambata

Garantisadong Pambata (GP) is a campaign to support the various health programs to reduce childhood illnesses and deaths by promoting positive child care behaviours.

GP is a program of the Department of Health in partnership with the Local Government Units (LGUs) and other government and non-government organizations.

33. Occupational Health Programs

Vision/Mission Statement

Health for all occupations in partnership with the workers, employers, local government authorities and other sectors in promoting self-sustaining programs and improvement of workers' health and working environment.

Program Objectives and Targets

To promote and protect the health and well-being of the working population thru improved health, better working conditions and workers' environment. Priority Targets Underserved/small scale and high risk groups in industry Occupational Health Programs Industrial Hygiene

General Objective: To promote and protect the health and safety of workers in industry

Specific Objectives:

·         To develop the capabilities and competencies of field health personnel in industrial Hygiene

·         To formulate policies, standards, regulations and guidelines on Occupational Health and Sanitation for industrial workers

·         To provide technical assistance on health and safety measures to protect the workers from occupational hazards/stresses in the work environment

Strategies/Activities

·         Policy development

·         Manpower development

·         Promotion of Industrial Hygiene consciousness among target groups

·         Provision of Industrial Hygiene instruments for monitoring in selected regions

·         Inspection of workers

·         Monitoring

·         Special investigations

·         Advocacy thru the "Healthy Workplace Campaign"

·         Intersectoral linkages

34. Health Development Program for Older Persons

            Cognizant of its mandate and crucial role, the Philippine Department of Heallth (DOH) formulated the Health Care Program for Older Persons (HCPOP) in 1998. The DOH HCPOP (presently renamed Health Development Program for Older Persons) sets the policies, standards and guidelines for local governments to implement the program in collaboration with other government agencies, non-government organizations and the private sector.

The program intends to promote and improve the quality of life of older persons through the establishment and provision of basic health services for older persons, formulation of policies and guidelines pertaining to older persons, provision of information and health education to the public, provision of basic and essential training of manpower dedicated to older persons and, the conduct of basic and applied researches.

Target Population/Clients

·         Older persons (60 years and above) who are:

ü  Well and free from symptoms

ü  Sick and frail

ü  Chronically ill and cognitively impaired

ü  In need of rehabilitation services

·         Health workers and caregivers

·         LGU and partner agencies

Vision: Healthy ageing for all Filipinos.

Goal: A healthy and productive older population is promoted.

 35. Pinoy MD Program

"Gusto kong Maging Doktor", a Medical Scholarship Grant for Indigenous People, Local Health Workers, Barangay Health Workers, Department of Health Employees or their children. This is a Joint program of the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and several State Universities and Medical Schools.

36. Persons with Disabilities Program

            The Department of Health (DOH) recently issued Administrative Order No. 2009-0011 detailing the guidelines for the provision of medical and related discounts and special privileges to persons wtih disabilities pursuant to Republic Act No. 9442 , an act amending the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities (R.A. No. 7277).

Under the said Administrative Order, persons with disabilities are entitled to a 20% discount in the purchase of branded and unbranded generic medicines from all establishments dispensing medicines for the exclusive use of persons with disabilities; and 20% discount for the cost of medical, dental and rehabilitation services, diagnostic and laboratory fees in service wards and sections of government health facilities in accordance with Clinical Practice Guidelines or Hospital Treatment Protocols and in all private hospitals and medical facilities.

Other discounted services include psychological or developmental tests in service wards of government hospitals; and speech therapies or services in all private hospital and medical facilities.

In the same administrative order, persons with disabilities who are not yet non-paying PhilHealth members may become PhilHealth members if they are sponsored or enrolled by their respective Local government Unit (LGU) or voluntarily enroll themselves as individually paying members.

37. Pneumonia and Other Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI's)

It is estimated that, worldwide, some four million children under five years of age, die each year from acute respiratory infections (ARI) with most of these deaths caused by pneumonia in developing countries. In 1989, when the Program for Control of Acute Respiratory Infections (CARI) the Philippines was launched, the death toll from pneumonia among children under the age of five years was 25,000. The latest statistics disclosed that almost 60 out of 1,000 children under five children suffer from pneumonia and 5 in every 11,000 die from the disease. The Department of Health believes that if health workers used a standard method of detecting and managing ARIs especially pneumonia, infant deaths could be cut by half, saving 50,000 lives a year.

38. Prevention of Blindness Program

           

            PBP aspires to link professional bodies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), educational institutions, and interested individuals, with national programs for the prevention of blindness.

Goals

·         To achieve the eradication of all preventable blindness by the year 2020.

·         To insure that all children have all visual needs met, including eyeglasses.

·         To assist blind children achieve their best by special educational resources.

·         To establish the World Eye Institute for the research and treatment of blinding eye

·         Diseases, with clinic facilities open to the blind of all nations on an equalitarian basis

39. Rabies Control Program

Rabies is a public health problem because of the following reasons:

·         It is one of the most acutely fatal infections which causes death between 200-500 Filipinos annually

·         The Philippines ranked number six among the countries with the highest reported incidence of Rabies in the world

Goal: Rabies is eliminated as a public health problem at less than 0.5 cases per million populations.

Implementing Agencies

·         The NRPCP is jointly implemented by the

·         Department of Agriculture (DA) and the DOH in collaboration with the DECS and DILG

·         DOH – provide human anti-rabies immunizing agents to high risk ABCs

·         DA – lead agency - conducts and supervises dog immunization activities and dog control measures

·         DECS, ILG & LGUs – assist in the promotion of Responsible Pet Ownership

40. Safe Women and Mother’s Health

            It is developed by the Department of Health in November, 1998. It seeks to examine not only biological but also socio-cultural factors to understand health needs of women. The program shall assure that ALL DOH programs and services have gender perspective.

Vision: Filipino women fully participating in decision making on their health and able to access quality health services from competent, caring, communicative and gender responsive health care poroviders.

Mission

To develop a gender sensitive health care system, promoting women’s health and is responsive to all her needs

Goal

Institutionalization of the woman’s perspective in all programs and services at all levels of the health care delivery system.

Objectives

·         To develop a sound technical basis for policy and action on gender and women's health issues.

·         To promote the integration of a gender perspective into health policies and programs.

·         To develop database and test interventions especially on preventing emerging issues such as violence against women.

·         To increase the participation of non-government organizations especially women's groups in designing, implementing and evaluating health policies and programs.

·         To advocate for policies and laws promotive and protective of women's health and rights.

·         To advocate for and disseminate information on the health situation of women with a gender perspective.

·         To mobilize resources of women's health.

41. Schistosomiasis Control Program

            The National Schistosomiasis Control Program is hereby created under the Department of Health to serve as a liaison agency between the government of the Philippines and the WHO/UNICEF, and as a coordinating body to ensure the concerted effort of various agencies concerned in planning and implementing a comprehensive program for schistosomiasis control in endemic and potentially endemic areas of the country.

42. Smoking Cessation Program

The battle to abate the tobacco epidemic is not being won and a major concern is the escalating transfer of the epidemic from big income countries to poorer and developing countries. In response to these global conditions, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched in July 1998, the Tobacco-Free Initiative (TFI) that aims “to coordinate an improved global strategic response to tobacco as an important public health issue.” The long-term goal of the global tobacco control is “to reduce smoking prevalence and tobacco consumption in all countries and among all groups, and thereby reduce the burden of disease caused by tobacco.” An important component of TFI is the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC will be the international legal arm “that will circumscribe the global spread of tobacco and tobacco products (WHO 1998).”

             In the Philippines, more recent initiatives aimed at crafting a national tobacco control program have been instituted. Among these are the series of multisectoral consultative meetings and workshops initiated by the Department of Health to craft a Plan of Action for Tobacco or Health. In line with the Department’s mission, the National Institute of Health of the University of the Philippines Manila are spearheading five roundtable discussions this year with technical and financial support from WHO. The discussions will focus on strategic themes that will set directions for tobacco control.

43. Soil Transmitted Helmenthiasis

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis is a persistent problem in the Philippines and it is the only disease concern identified in the National Health Plan which does not have a definitive control plan. Accordingly, the Communicable Disease Control Service has created the Soil-transmitted Helminthiasis Control Program, funded in 1999 under General Appropriations Act (Republic Act 8735 number lll. A.10)

Vision: Healthy and Productive Filipinos in the 21st Century

Mission: To ensure that:

·         The highest Quality Health services are available to all especially the underserved

·         All aspects of health care are provided in an integrated man

Goal: To ensure that:

·         The highest Quality Health services are available to all especially the underserved

·         All aspects of health care are provided in an integrated manner

Objectives

General Objectives

·         To reduce high/medium-grade intensity infection to low-grade intensity infection in 100% of 2-14 year old children in the project site at the end of 3 years

·         To reduce the prevalence of infection to < 50% in the project site at the end of 3 years

Short-term Objective: To treat 80% of 2-14 years old in the project site for a period of three years        

Long-term Objectives

·         To increase the number of sanitary toilets by 10% at the end of 3 years

·         To ensure access to safe water in 80% of households

·         To ensure the practice of personal and food hygiene in 90% of households

·         To build up the capability of the province in STH control

44. TB Control Program

The rising incidence of tuberculosis has economic repercussions not only for the patient’s family but also for the country. Eighty percent of people afflicted with tuberculosis are in the most economically productive years of their lives, and the disease sends many self-sustaining families into poverty. The rise in the incidence of tuberculosis has been due to the low priority accorded to anti-tuberculosis activities by many countries. The unavailability of anti-TB drugs, insufficient laboratory networking, poor health infrastructures, including a lack of trained health personnel, have also contributed to the rise in the incidence of the diseases.

According to the World Health Organization, the Philippines ranks fourth in the world for the number of cases of tuberculosis and has the highest number of cases per head in Southeast Asia. Almost two thirds of Filipinos have tuberculosis, and up to five million people are infected yearly in our country.

In 1996, WHO introduced the Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) to ensure completion of treatment.

The DOTS strategy depends on five elements for its success: Microscope, Medicines, Monitoring, Directly Observed Treatment, and Political Commitment). If any of these elements are missing, our ability to consistently cure TB patients slips through our fingers.

45. Nurse Assigned in the Rural Services (NARS) Program

Project NARS is a Training cum Deployment Project, jointly implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Health (DOH) and the Professional Regulation Commission, Board of Nursing (PRC-BON), designed to mobilize unemployed registered nurses to the 1,000 poorest municipalities of the country to improve the delivery of health care services.

Project NARS is in line with the pump priming strategies under the Economic Resiliency Plan of the Arroyo Administration to mitigate the impact of the global financial crisis, i.e. to save and create as many jobs as possible and expand social protection. This was launched by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 9 February 2009 during the Multi-Sectoral Summit on “Joining Hands Against the Global Crisis” in Malacanang Palace, Manila.

Project NARS aims to address the glut in inexperienced nurses, promote health of the people and bring the government closer to them. The idea is to mobilize nurses cooling their heels in their hometowns (due to low local and overseas demand for the services of inexperienced nurses) for work among their own people. Nurses will be mobilized in their hometowns as warriors for wellness to do the three I’s:

·         Initiate primary health, school nutrition, maternal health programs, and first line diagnosis

·         Inform about community water sanitation practices and also do health surveillance

·         Immunize children and mothers.

·         They shall likewise serve as roving nurses for rural schools.

Competencies gained by the nurses upon completion of the training program shall cover both clinical and public health sectors. The project shall provide nurses with learning and development opportunities to enhance their capacity to provide quality nursing and health care and consequently increase the nurses’ employability.

General Objective

Project NARS aims to improve delivery of health care services to our population and create a pool of registered nurses with enhanced clinical and preventive health management competencies for national public and private sector employment

Specific Objectives

·         Provide registered nurses necessary competencies that encompass both community and preventive health practice as well as clinical skills;

·         Address the shortages of skilled and experienced nurses, both domestic and overseas through a structured competency development program;

·         Provide deployment opportunities for nurses in rural areas and underserved communities;

·         Augment the nursing workforce of hospitals and rural health units in identified poor municipalities of needed clinical and public health nurses.