Expanded Local Health Board Meeting

On May 21, 2019, an Expanded Local Health Board meeting was held at the office of Mayor Varias which attended by AWH as a member.

The agenda were the following:

  1. Presentation//Analysis of Municipal Primary Health Care Roadmap
  2. Organization of Barangay (village) Blood Council
  3. Integration of Barangay Voluntary Blood Council to Municipal Voluntary Blood Council
  4. Functioning of GeneXpert machine for TB program. Upgrade of air-conditioning system at the laboratory to meet the needed temperature for the machine.

Dr. Manzo, head of the municipal health center, reported the Mobile X-ray helped detect TB cases of tricycle drivers, senior citizens and barangay officials who are at high risk. Smoking and pollution added the risk to it.

She added the barangay health workers refer TB patients to her.

She reported the GeneXpert machine examines the phlegm of a suspected TB patient and multiple drug resistant TB patients. They can get the result within the day. The dry run of the machine will be on May 28 at the main health center. They are aiming for a “TB-free Alfonso” but admitted that family members usually do not report suspected TB patients to a health authority is still a major problem in the community.

Expanded Local Health Board Meeting

AWH attended the Expanded Local Health Board meeting on August 31, 2018 held at the Alfonso Muincipal Hall headed by Mayor Varias and Dr. Manzo.

Issues discussed were the following:
1. Voluntary Blood Council
2. Expanded Local Health Board
3. Municipal Nutrition Council
4. Alfonso Task Force on Smoking
5. Local Rabies Control
6. TB (tuberculosis) Infection Control
7. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD), HIV and AIDS

Area of high TB cases were in barangay Pajo, Taiwanak Ibaba and Upli. As of the 2nd quarter 70 TB cases were reported. 9 were children. Most of the patients were male. The health department gives free medical treatment and are strictly monitored.

Dr. Manzo headed a mass TB screening on May 20, 2018 for tricycle drivers. Out of 150 tricycle drivers 16 were positive.

It was reported of increase cases of HIV in Cavite. There are reported 56,000 HIV/AIDS patients from 1984 to present in Cavite. 16 new cases were reported Alfonso. They conduct seminars in local high schools about STD, HIV and AIDS.

Local Council for Protection of Children Meeting at Mayor’s Office

A Local Council for Protection of Children (LCPC)  meeting was held on June 20, 2017  at Alfonso Mayor Varias’ office.

1. Alfonso SPED (SPECIAL EDUCATION) Center

AWH relayed about the following suggestions we offered to them before:

  1. assistance to implement on-line therapy
  2. assistance to hire a part time driver to take the para-teacher to the homes of the disabled children
  3. we can assist in the P50,000 training fee for more para-teachers where the trainer can come to the SPED Center
  4. provide supplements B6 & D3 to pregnant women & to autistic & intellectually disabled children

Among the choices above Gina of DSWD said they are interested if we can assist financially in hiring a full time driver to take the para-teachers to the homes of the disabled children. We will discuss further for more perpetuated and practical aid.

2. End TB Program

AWH asked Dr. Manzo of municipal health department about our second P15,000 financial assistance to procure additional TB medicines. She said there is enough supply of TB medicines thus she does not need yet our second financial assistance. Instead she mentioned about the dire need of B6 supplement. She said B6 is good for pregnant women & people suffering from TB as well. There is no supply of B6 from the government. She added Vitamin C & Folic Acid are beneficial to these patients.

3. Teenage Pregnancy Forum

In conjunction with RIMM (Rotary International Multinational Manila), another Teenage Pregnancy Forum is planned in July at Lucushin National High School. The date will be set with Dr. Manzo.

Mayor Varias told everyone in the LCPC meeting that he was appreciative of the active involvement of AWH for the Alfonso community.

Local Council for The Protection of Children (LCPC)

The members of LCPC consist of councilors from the municipality of Alfonso, Cavite, DSWD Alfonso, municipal health official, municipal planning department, local national statistics office, local police officers, NGO’s, students and pastors, had a monthly meeting on March 9th, 2015. AWH joined LCPC in January 2015.20150309_144540 (Large)DSWD and NSO recognized AWH efforts of helping indigents in barangay Mangas II residents procure birth certificates in the previous month, as well as repairing the roof of and donation of a steel bunk bed to the youth counseling center.Roof repair of Alfonso Post Office & Police StationSince protection of LCPC extends to women and elderlies, it was discussed to set the date for “Women’s Empowerment Day” to be on March 24th and preparation for it.

AWH which supported national polio/measles/rubella vaccination campaign in September 2014 with Alfonso health officials expressed its health concern against TB (tuberculosis) and willingness to support the municipal health office (MHO) for prevention of its spreading.
Dr. Manzo mentioned that DOH (Department of Health) provides the tuberculin test supplies and medicines. However the problem is not so many residents visit the health office to receive the test so the MHO plans to visit each barangay to conduct the test month by month. Since the funds run out sometimes Dr. Manzo mentioned that it would be a big help if AWH supports this TB activities.

 

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