SAN FERNANDO, La Union – The Apayao Provincial Health Team has accomplished the third and final module of the Bayang Malusog: Leadership and Development Program (LDP), held from December 12-14, 2023, in San Fernando, La Union.
With the said completion, it is expected that the implementation of Universal Health Care in the province shall take a faster pace.
Among the notable attendees from the province were Governor Elias C. Bulut, Jr., Hon. Kyle Mariah Chelsea Bulut-Cunan, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Henry Caluducan, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Mark Joleen Calban, PDOHO Charlyn Tagabing, Dr. Roy Julian, Cuester Dangao, and Markrobin Daguio.
The Leadership and Development Program (LDP) is a 24-month bridging leadership initiative granted by DOH-CAR in collaboration with the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) and the University of the Philippines-College of Public Health. Its primary objective is to enhance the leadership and technical capacities of governors and their teams to expedite and elevate (UHC) in their respective provinces, ultimately improving health outcomes.
Comprising three modules with coaching, mentoring, and practicum sessions in between, the program fosters the development and enhancement of competencies. This enables participants to comprehend the intricacies of health inequities, articulate their vision for health, and identify and tackle health challenges within their provinces.
The first module took place in October 2022, during which provincial health teams formulated plans to achieve quick wins in UHC, particularly by fortifying primary care services for marginalized populations. As part of their practicum, participants immersed themselves in grassroots activities to grasp health challenges from the community’s perspective.
In June 2023, alongside their governors, participants reconvened for the second LDP module. The focus shifted to formulating action plans to strengthen the governance mechanism of integrated health care provider networks and establishing a special health fund for more efficient pooling and distribution of financial resources.
The third and final module concentrated on empowering participants to enhance community participation from municipal to provincial levels. It addressed social determinants of health, improved interventions for the effective delivery of individual and community-based services, and mobilized municipal mayors and key stakeholders to achieve health equity, making health truly universal.
Over the next six months, participants will engage in technical sessions, share best practices, and receive coaching and mentoring from DOH-CAR and ZFF. A leadership retreat and colloquium will follow before formal graduation from the bridging leadership program. By JCM
