BONTOC, Mountain Province – Five Community Health Teams (CHTs) were recognized in the 2015 Search for Best Outstanding CHT by the Provincial Government of Mountain Province thru its Provincial Health Office (PHO) in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) during the 4th CHT Summit on June 2, 2016 here.
Barangay Bagnen Oriente of Bauko ranked first place, Barangay Macalana of Barlig bagged second place, Barangay Bontoc Ili, Bontoc got the third place, fourth place is Barangay Namatec of Sabangan and fifth place is Barangay Butigue of Paracelis.
The awardees received Certificate of Recognition from the provincial government and cash award from the DOH. Bagnen Oriente CHT received P12, 000.00; Macalana CHT received P9, 000.00; Bontoc Ili CHT received P7, 000.00; Namatec CHT received P5, 000.00; and Butigue CHT received P4, 000.00.
Midwife IV Mary Lee Piluden of the PHO said that the reference in the search is based on the 2014 CHT Accomplishment Score Card. Criteria in the search include Service Delivery (based on the actual data in the barangay) such as on health which is 40%, education -10% and day care-10%; on Governance -20%; Financing which is 15% and Regulations which is 5%. An added points of 5% is also given for other activities initiated by CHTs. Also, they should submit a write up of their best practices.
Piluden added that the judges in the search are representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Provincial Office, DOH-CAR, DOH- Provincial Office and from the Department of Education (DepEd).
The CHT is composed of the punong barangay as the chairperson, the midwife as the co-chairperson and members include the Kagawad who chairs the Committee on Health, Education and Environment, barangay health workers (BHWs)/ barangay nutrition scholars, traditional birth attendants, at least two elders, representatives from church groups/ non- government organizations, day care workers, school head in the barangay, Parents Teachers Associations, and others as identified.
Dr. Penelope A. Domogo shared that the CHT has a big role in empowering communities to take responsibilities of their health and development. Also, the CHT functions in helping the constituents uplift their lives through the health system, direct the families to the necessary health facilities and health professionals for the most appropriate intervention health care. Dr. Domogo added that it is the CHTs who know and see the needs and concerns of the constituents in their respective barangay.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Raul M. Lapon, the Chairperson on Committee on Health, Sanitation and Social Services commended the CHTs for their utmost effort and dedication in the delivery of quality health care in their barangays. He urged the participants to continue their good work and always be an inspiration to the community and the young people.
Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. who graced the occasion said that he was impressed, referring to the barangay ordinances passed by the barangay officials of Bagnen Oriente in support to health and social services. Some of the barangay ordinances include exclusive breast feeding of nursing mothers in the first six months, regulating the sale of junk foods and processed milk, imposing penalty to pregnant mothers who do not visit the barangay clinic for pre-natal check-ups, and allocating P3, 000.0 from the budget of the barangay as a revolving fund to be loaned out to a pregnant mother who will be delivering her baby.
Lacwasan who was once a punong barangay attested that health and social services has always been given attention by the barangay officials. With this, he thanked the CHTs for their continuous cooperation and support to all the programs of the provincial government and their partner stakeholders in the delivery of quality health care in their respective barangays.
The governor added that the provincial government has always been giving importance and attention to social and health services. This is through increasing the aid to the barangay, increasing the incentives given to the BHWs from P1, 000.00 each to P1, 200.00 and giving incentives to Day Care workers in the province.
By Alpine L. Killa
