LUNA, Apayao – The Apayao Provincial Health Office (PHO) on Tuesday held a Public Education Health Trust Meeting, relating the necessary structural changes and discussing the current status and future plans of the Provincial Eye Program under the National Prevention and Blindness Program, at the LMP Hall Payanan on October 15.
With public health professionals, local government representatives, and community stakeholders in attendance, the meeting’s agenda featured a comprehensive review of the program’s accomplishments and the challenges it faced. Participants particularly focused on the Work and Financial Plan (WFP) targets which are yet to be met.
Based on the data presented, investments totalling PhP1.16 million have been made for eye health equipment for the North Luzon General Hospital and Training Center, alongside an additional PhP144,295 allocated for the PHO’s equipment needs. Initial project implementation funding of PhP623, 090 was also confirmed, laying the financial groundwork for future activities.
Addressing the needs of the underprivileged and geographically remote barangays has been the program’s main focus as it begins its second month of implementation across multiple municipalities.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Mark Joleen Calban said, one of the components of the eye health program is the training of Department of Education school nurses to conduct vision screenings for pupils, specifically targeting kindergarten to grade two students.
“For many years, we have not been able to implement such a program. We want to ensure every child has access to vision screening with the assistance of our public nurses and DepEd, due to the recent studies highlighting learning disabilities often attributed to visual impairment underscore the importance of this initiative,” he emphasized.
Partnering with various agencies, including the Department of Interior and Local Government, PhilHealth, local government units, the Provincial DOH Office, private ophthalmologists, and under the FRED Hallows Foundation, the PHO is committed to a collaborative approach to healthcare. These partnerships ensure that all community needs are considered and addressed.
Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr. has integrated the Eye Program within Project Butsy under Project ASENG’s health component. This initiative seeks to maintain community-driven health activities, aiming for the long-term success and continuation of the eye health program. By Joyce Arian Soria
