IMUS, Cavite -- Busy days lie ahead for Department of Health (DOH) Region IV-A (Calabarzon) Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo, as he embarks on series of inspection this month of the various health facilities in the region to ensure 24/7 health care services to residents.
The DOH Calabarzon director is set to conduct surprise visits to a total of 211 rural health units in Calabarzon, where 39 are located in Cavite, 42 in Laguna, 50 in Batangas, 36 in Rizal, and 44 in Quezon.
Also, Janairo will check compliance to operational standards of some 77 local government hospitals--15 in Cavite, 15 in Laguna, 15 in Batangas, 14 in Rizal, and 18 in Quezon. A DOH-retained hospital in Batangas will also be checked.
Janairo said on Thursday he is doing the rounds "to make sure that the health needs of the people in the community are given proper attention and that basic health needs are obtainable at the local level.”
He particularly checks on the available health service resources and amenities to ensure an "up and about" quality of service to the locals.
Janairo said if the local health facilities are reliable to provide the health needs of local folks, this would prevent patients from seeking health care from distant health facilities, "therefore cost-effective and can also save lives."
Janairo’s checklist includes maintenance of the facilities. “These should be well maintained,” he said.
Basic health supplies and medical equipment vital to basic health care services to patients must also be complete, he added.
In his previous rounds, Janairo came across the Rural Health Unit and the Mabini Community Emergency and Ancillary Hospital. Construction of both facilities has been incomplete for several years now due to budgetary cuts. Janairo assured the local officials of the regional office's support for its completion.
The community hospital, once completed, will cater to marginalized sector of three municipalities, namely Mabini, Bauan, and Tingloy Island.
“The major clients of government health facilities are the poor, and it is important that health facilities must not suffer neglect due to the inadequacy of health budgets, as the poor needs the services the most,” he said.
Janairo said he targets to complete the inspection "by or before the end of the year." (PNA)
