The Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WVCHD) recently led the cascading of the Health Sector 8-Point Action Agenda (8 PAA) 2023-2028 in Iloilo City.

CHD employees, representatives and focal persons from various national government agency partners, and other health stakeholders in the region, including non-government organizations and the academe attended the gathering.

DOH-WVCHD regional director Dr. Adriano P. Suba-a, in his opening message, acknowledged the support of all development partners for health and at the same time called for continued collaboration as they cascade the current administration’s priority programs for health for every individual Filipino, community, and health worker and institution.

“There’s a need for us to look into the different services given to every Filipino, every Juan and Juana. There’s a need for us to get into the services that are given to the population in the community. And, it is also our responsibility and accountability in the health sector to look into consideration of the welfare of the health workers,” Suba-an underscored, focusing on the objectives of the 8 PAA.

Meanwhile, DOH Central Office’s Performance Monitoring and Strategy Management Division chief, Lindsey Jeremiah D. Villarante, served as the keynote speaker of the event who discussed the provisions and the corresponding targets and its action plan in the 8 PAA as the medium-term strategy of the health department aimed for better health outcomes, stronger health system, and access at all levels of care to attain the goal that Filipinos shall be among the healthiest people in Asia by 2040 and aligned with the objectives of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.

“It is necessary for us to have a policy framework and strategic direction wherein all of us can align, especially our sector. It [8 PAA] encourages all of us, all government agencies, to align policies, programs, and funds,” Villarante noted.

As mandated under Memorandum Circular No. 53, series of 2024, of the Office of the President adopting the National Objectives for Health 2023-2028, all national government agencies, instrumentalities, and government-owned and controlled corporations are directed to support the implementation of the objectives and encouraged LGUs to support the same.

Villarante further explained that the said the Action Agenda encapsulates the aspirations of realizing a “Bagong Pilipinas kung saan Bawat Buhay Mahalaga” as emphasized in the Universal Healthcare Act.

The agenda is divided into three strategy clusters.

The first cluster, “Bawat Pilipino,” includes the first three agendas, such as the “Bawat Pilipino ramdam ang kalusugan,” “Ligtas, kalidad at mapagkalingang serbisyo,” and “Teknolohiya para sa mabilis na serbisyo.”

The second cluster, “Bawat Komunidad,” includes “Handa sa krisis,” “Pag-iwas sa sakit,” and “Ginhawa sa isip at damdamin.”

The last two agendas compose the third cluster, “Bawat Health Worker at Institusyon,” which includes “Kapakanan at karapatan ng health workers” and “Proteksyon sa anumang pandemya.”

Meanwhile, as part of the event, DOH-WVCHD program managers along with partner government agencies, local health officers, and other participants of the event were grouped per health agendum to discuss necessary action points and possible areas for collaboration.

The Philippine Information Agency also joined the activity with the commitment to supporting the 8 PAA 2023-2028, particularly on the fifth agendum “Pag-iwas sa Sakit” which focuses on “addressing determinants of health and improving healthy behaviors through the promotion of health-enabling settings, implementation of healthy public policies, and enhancement of health literacy.”

“We will continue to lead until every person in Western Visayas receives the necessary healthcare at an affordable cost or no cost at all coming from their own pockets. With all of our collaborative efforts, in the past and the present, together with the 8-Point Action Agenda, as our health sector strategy, we will ensure that no one will be left behind,” Suba-an stressed. (PIA-6)