Governor Lilia G. Pineda has always had the health of her constituents on top of her list of priorities and the Provincial Health Office (PHO) pursued its programs along this line.
For the nearly one year that the governor has been in office, the PHO paid attention to Kapampangans who had tuberculosis. Its report to the governor reflected 3,651 TB symptomatic who underwent sputum examination, 750 of whom were smear positives.
Dr. Antonio Aquino, acting provincial health officer, said that out of the 750, some 64% or 480 got cured and the others merely completed their treatment. It is this last group that the PHO wants to pay more attention to in order to increase the percentage of those who get cured.
He added that children with TB aged zero to four years old were given treatment for six months. The TB drugs for adults and children were provided by the Center for Health Development in Region 3 while other medicines for children and supplies were augmented by the provincial government.
Pampanga has maintained its high coverage of Vitamin A supplementation at 96.43%, the province having been a recipient of the Garantisadong Pambata (GP) award for the past two consecutive years years.
Aquino explained that the GP theme seeks to save the child in several ways to prevent severe malnutrition, protect children from the seven immunizable diseases, reduce maternal and infant death, and promote breastfeeding to nursing mothers.
Its expanded program on immunization from July to December 2010 had the following coverage: 23,406 (102.71%) for BCG, a vaccine for TB; 18,422 (80.84%) for Hepatitis B3; 18,449 (80.95%) for Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) 3; 18,743 (82.24%) for Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus (DPT) 3; 21,357 (93.72%) for measles; and 21,373 (93.79%) for fully immunized children (FIC).
The EPI vaccines were provided by the CHD 3 while the provincial government and local government units augmented other logistics to fully meet the needs of the target groups.
The anti-rabies program is another aspect of health which the PHO focused on, Aquino reported. From July to December 2010, the total number of animal bites was 2,058 and this same number was given post exposure prophylaxis.
Areas with higher incidence of animal bites are Lubao, 374; Floridablanca, 369; Guagua, 306; Porac, 188 and Sta. Rita, 156.
Aquino claimed that continuing information, education and communication activities on responsible pet ownership are being conducted, including the advocacy of some LGUs for the creation and passage of ordinances on anti-rabies programs.
The PHO also reported having conducted medical and dental missions in various towns and district hospitals in the province, benefiting nearly 5,000 persons, in addition to the environmental health services done during the first year of Governor Pineda’s term. (Pampanga PIO)
