Katribu on health

HAPPY WEEKEND
Gina Dizon

There is a breath of life in Katribu President Beverly Longid’s commendation to medical board topnotcher Marie Jo-Ann Beltran Cabanting’s decision to stay and serve the country. Folks from far flung villages not reached by doctors and nurses who suffer from lack of health services, would be happy.

Among health service-needy areas are places where ethnic peoples are found. Indigenous Peoples which account for 15% of the population compose 110 ethnolinguistic groups including the Isneg and the Igorots in the uplands of the Cordillera, the Bugkalot of northern Luzon, the Aetas of Southern Luzon, Mangyans of Mindoro to the Lumads of Mindanao.

On account of isolation, ethnic groups have generally been forgotten in the mainstream population in terms of socio-economic development. One of these features of government neglect is health service.

Katribu, a party list organization-candidate for a legislative seat in Congress for the 2010 elections, considers health as one of its major platforms in government.

Infant mortality rate for one is still high and varies throughout the country depending on socioeconomic and demographic factors. A high infant mortality rate is noted among infants of mothers with less or no education and those who receive no antenatal and delivery care. In most cases, those who suffer from infant mortality are found in remote villages.

The World Health Organization reports the Philippines is one of 42 countries that account for 90 percent of global deaths among children under five.Communicable diseases are also high. In 2005, there were reported cholera outbreaks in Catanduanes and Palawan, causing deaths among children and adults. Tuberculosis remains among the 10 leading causes of morbidity and mortality.

With health services devolved to LGUs and now managed by the municipal government through its rural health units and barangay health stations, persisting issues such as less access to health services by remote and isolated areas is still a major complaint. The mass migration of doctors and nurses to other developed countries is making health services doubly difficult for far flung communities.

Besides, personal spending of health services is still a major issue with government lacking provision of medicines and hospital fees. Health remains to be a major concern in the country. The government's attention to provide the needed services and build a healthy base by uplifting the local economy instead of sending people out of the country remains to be a top call.