San Jorge LGU enrolls in PopShop

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
February 19, 2008

CATBALOGAN CITY, Leyte  –  Concerned with cases of maternal deaths and ballooning population growth, San Jorge LGU enrolled in PopShop, recently.

Through the invitation of the Municipal Health Officer (MHO) of Motiong LGU Dr. Shiela Tante, RHU San Jorge led by Salvador Paquit Rural Health OIC enrolled in the program.

PopShop Franchise is designed to meet the contraceptive product needs of the community. It offers and provides DKT products, operational training, material and promotional support, and management and technical assistance to the Franchisees.

Its purpose is to present local government units and non-government organizations with a viable and immediate option to procure and distribute contraceptive products. It has a cost-recovery mechanism built into the Franchise, which is designed to ensure sustainable operations.

PopShop franchisees provide access to high-quality and affordable reproductive health products, information and services to improve the quality of life of Filipinos. According to Marissa Dizon, nurse at San Jorge RHU, it is only San Jorge and Motiong in Samar that enrolled in PopShop.

From the website, it was known that Eastern Samar province linked with PopShop for the services and products. Bohol and Ifugao are also listed as network partners.

It will be recalled that the donor agencies for family planning may at any time withdraw contraceptive support to the health units in the country and the government it seems is not keen on sustaining the need for artificial methods of family planning.

In Samar, a few local chief executives have signified compliance to reproductive health and the Contraceptive Self-Reliance (CSR).

Although Samar shows a relatively low growth rate, Popcom Officer Emil Rama said out-migration is a factor considered so the figure does not necessarily mean that Samar women practice family planning.