KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- The Department of Health and Center for Health Development in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region emphasized the importance of strong partnerships among stakeholders to ensure the immediate and effective provision of health services to Filipinos.

During the recent Pugay Pangkalusugan Regional Awards 2023, Dr. Aristides Concepcion Tan, regional director of DOH-CHD XII, thanked the department’s partners for making quality health services accessible to all.

“We really seek your support in ensuring that we can provide quality health services,” Tan said.

He added that the implementation of Universal Health Care (UHC) and the support of every sector of society, including development partners, are of utmost importance. He also encouraged stakeholders to continue their support and collaboration to strengthen the health system that could address the health challenges in the country, especially in the Soccsksargen region.

Meanwhile, Dr. Abdullah Dumama Jr., undersecretary of Health Field Implementation and Coordination Team-Mindanao, recognized the efforts of stakeholders, particularly the health frontline workers, in improving the health system and service delivery. This, he added, signifies their endearing passion for public service.

“I would like to highlight the gallantry of health workers that despite the dangers, they remain faithful to perform their mandates as public servants. This will never go unnoticed,” he said.

Dumama described the sacrifices and contributions of their health partners as the epitome of heroism in pushing the implementation of the UHC Act.

“This is an opportune time to leave a legacy for the future generations to enjoy,” the health official emphasized.

During the Pugay Pangkalusugan Regional Awards 2023, the DOH presented the following awards to outstanding health partners in the region: Best Community Eye Health Team, Red Orchid Awards, SOCCSKSARGEN Vaccine Champions, Exemplary Adolescent Friendly Health Facility Award, Exemplary Award for Family Planning Program, Municipal-wide Zero Open Defecation Award, Municipal-wide Basic Sanitation Award, Top Performing LGU for Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis Award, Top Performing Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Most Outstanding Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit in Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance, Outstanding Office in FHSIS Reporting, and Health Facility Star Awards.

The DOH also conferred the Pulang Laso Excellence Award, HIV Treatment Facility Quality Service Award, Most Outstanding HIV Stakeholder Award, Rabies-Free Zone Award, Best LGU Implementer of Animal Bite Treatment Center, Animal Bite Treatment Center Quality Service Award, Malaria Disease Free Zone Award, Malaria-Free Sustainability Award, Filaria-Free Sustainability Ward, Best Performing National Tuberculosis Control Program Award, Best Performing TB-DOTS Facility, Top Performing BHW Federation, Local Health System Award, and the special awards such as the Most Number of F1 Plus Botika ng Bayan Established Nationwide, and the Most Outstanding National Drug Policy Compliance Officer to their deserving stakeholders.

Certificates of appreciation were also given to outstanding local government units and health partners in the region.

“Sa healthy Pilipinas, bawat buhay mahalaga,” Dumama said, urging health stakeholders to work together to achieve a healthy nation. (SJDM - PIA Region 12)