Pinabacdao receives P2.5M ANESVAD grant

By EMY C. BONIFACIO
July 2, 2008

PINABACDAO, Samar  –  A P2.5 million newly constructed rural health center at Barangay Dolores, this municipality, was formally inaugurated last June 26, 2008. The construction of the health edifice, which is a legacy of the Culion Foundation, Inc. (CFI) to the people of the Pinabacdao, was granted by the Fundacion ANESVAD of Spain. It is the only infrastructure component of the CFI’s project on “Control of prevalent Communicable and Infectious Diseases” in selected provinces in Eastern Visayas. This is in partnership with the Department of Health Region 8, Samar Provincial Government and the Municipal Government of Pinabacdao, this province.

ANESVAD, a non-government organization under its new management, is based in Spain. It has CFI as its Philippine counterpart. ANESVAD projects are already under its final assessment stage since it is expected to end by July, according to CFI Executive Director, Mr. Antonio Imperial. With her gracing the said inauguration, is Ms. Indira Villegas, the project manager of ANESVAD.

Fortunately, Ms. Villegas was also here in the Philippines to conduct an evaluation of all the ANESVAD projects implemented in Southeast Asia. Their evaluation outputs will also serve as the basis for new strategic plans and programs to be implemented. “Now is your turn to guarantee the sustainability of the project. If the project is not here, there is no reason for us to be here”, was Ms. Villegas’ final challenge to everyone when she delivered her message.

On the other hand, Dir. Imperial of Culion Foundation Inc., congratulated all Pinabacdaoanons for having a very supportive and health conscious chief executive. He encouraged everyone to make use of the facility. He was happy to know that the center was provided with a Blood Chemistry Machine sourced from the local government funds.

In return, he announced various programs like the provision of free drugs and travel allowances to RHU personnel who will be conducting outreach regular medical check-ups to strategic barangays for possible identification of leprosy, tuberculosis and other cases. CFI will also be sponsoring capability building seminars to Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and doctors in eight (8) municipalities in Samar including the cities of Calbayog and Catbalogan.

Meanwhile, the municipality was also assured by the DOH8 Director, Dr. Teogenes F. Baluma, with one physician who will be required to report effective July 01, 2008. This development came after hearing that it has long been a dream of the populace to have a doctor who will be permanently assigned in the center. He also expressed his desire that the RHU services will not be mainly on the curative aspects, but should focus on the preventive and rehabilitation measures. Furthermore, he appreciated the local government’s efforts to add more enrollees to the PhilHealth program and encouraged the extension of out patient and maternity packages which will guarantee the sustainability of the unit.