Laoag City—More than 100 health workers from the different hospitals in Ilocos Norte and provincial government employees have gathered together on August 5, 2019 to celebrate the opening of the National Hospital Week at the Provincial Capitol grounds.
This year’s theme, “Universal Health Isakatuparan… Pagkakaisa’t Pagtutulungan ng Ospital at Komunidad Kailangan,” emphasizes on the importance of unity among the government, community, and health sector in attaining a healthy nation.
Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc reiterated his commitment to solving pressing problems of the health system in the province, expressing, “Nakalulungkot isipin na kung sino pa ang mas nangangailangan ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugan ay sila pa ang nahihirapang makakuha nito. [Thus] we pledge to improve, we pledge to equip, and we pledge to better staff our hospitals.”
At present, he is examining the allocation of budget for hazard pay of provincial medical personnel and looks into hiring additional medical personnel to address staff shortage.
Furthermore, the Provincial Government is coordinating with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for the provision of ambulances to all cities, municipalities, district hospitals, and rural health units.
According to Dr. Jose B. Orosa III, chief of medical professional Staff II at Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC), Ilocos Norte will hopefully open its first cancer center, open heart center, kidney transplantation center, lung center, neonatal centers, infectious disease center, and eye center by 2025.
He urged his fellow medical practitioners to work “proactively” and complement each other to produce “one of the healthiest people in the world”.
The celebration started with a motorcade followed by a Zumba workout in front of the Provincial Capitol building.
Other activities of the week-long celebration include sports events, dance fitness competition, barangay health workers forum, and quiz bee, among others. (Blessing Angel Agliam)