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HIGIT pa sa pamamahagi ng ayuda, binigyang-diin ni former Davao City lawmaker Karlo Nograles na tungkulin ng pamahalaan dalhin ang programang pangkalusugan sa lahat ng komunidad, gayundin ang pagpapalakas ng barangay health centers sa tulong ng sapat na kagamitan.
“The health of Davaoeños needs to be looked after, including those who live on its outskirts. Lahat ng kababayan natin, mayaman o mahirap, takot magkasakit. But lack of easier access to health facilities discourages residents from seeking health services. Ang nangyari dahil dito, lumala ang sakit sa halip na naagapan,” pahayag ni Nograles.
Partikular na isinusulong ni Nograles ang pagkakaroon ng mas pinagbuting access sa city government-funded health facilities para sa mga residente ng Davao City nang wala pag-aalala sa oras at gastusin.
“It will be easier to promote public health and convince the people to look after their health if they see City Hall in action within their own communities. Kailangan maramdaman ang health programs ng City Hall, kailangan malaman ng mga Davaoeño that there are mobile clinics and health centers within reach so they can save time and money while caring for their health,” paliwanag ni Nograles.
Bukod sa tinatawag na individual-based health services, na ipinagkaloob sa bisa ng mobile clinics at health centers, dapat din aniyang mag-invest ang lokal na pamahalaan sa population-based primary health care na magbibigay naman ng proteksyon sa mga komunidad laban sa banta ng infectious diseases at pagsusulong ng pangkalahatang kalusugan.
“Davao needs to be a leading light in public health,” mariing sabi pa ng former Civil Service Commission head. Bilang isang pangunahing lungsod, mahalaga rin aniya maging digitalized ang kanilang health records, magkaroon ng komprehensibong epidemiologic surveillance system para ma-detect ang anumang banta sa public health, at proactive campaign at programa para sa health promotion.
Dagdag pa ni Nograles, dapat ipagpatuloy ng Davao City ang pagpapahusay sa iba pang aspeto ng health care services nito kabilang ang child and maternal health and mortality, immunization, prevention at pagtugon sa non-communicable diseases gaya ng hypertension, diabetes, kidney and liver disease, kasabay na rin sa pagsusulong ng mga programa para sa wellness at active, healthy lifestyle.
“Public health is crucial in improving our way of life, and has practical and positive effects not only on a familial basis, but also on the government’s resources. Our goal should not only be to treat illness, but to prevent it,” ayon pa kay Nograles.
“If families are healthy, they can use more of their budgets for food, housing, and education. Meanwhile, it is cheaper in the long run for governments to spend on preventive measures instead of responding to individual and widespread illnesses.”
