Province of Benguet conducted a National Seminar together with the Department of Health(DoH) as part of “ Project of Strengthening of Local Health System in the Province of Benguet ” at Hotel Elizabeth in Baguio city from February 16 to 18, 2011. Benguet Governor Nestor B. Fongwan, DoH Undersecretary David Lozada Jr. and around 130 persons attended the national seminar.
This seminar aimed to share the lessons and experiences gained in the successful implementation of this project and to solicit inputs as well as review the achievements and formulate plans for enhancement and sustainability of implementation of health reforms under the “Aquino Health Agenda”.
Inadequate supporting system of quality health services, chronic financial deficit, lack of drugs, ineffective referral system were some of the issues commonly perceived in Benguet by 2006. The purpose of this project is to strengthen local health system to improve quality of health service in the Province of Benguet by the Provincial Government as well as DoH through technical assistance, provision of basic medical equipment for Rural Health Units and District Hospitals, and counterpart training in Japan, and so on.
This five year project was able to achieve its target outputs, of which some of the major achievements were: improved health service support systems provided by better quality Rural Health Units and District Hospitals, strengthened health governance capability of the province and the improved health care financial system as well as drug supply system.
The Government of Japan believes that for almost five years of implementation, this project has paved the way for the over-all improvement of the health system in Benguet Province, embodying Japan's basic ODA policy for strengthening of the Philippine health sector and health system as an important vehicle to enhance human security of the local people.
The enduring friendship and mutual cooperation between our two countries dates back to more than 50 years. Japan, as the top Official Development Assistance (ODA) donor to the Philippines, has shown unwavering commitment and contribution to improvement of the health sector in the Philippines, including that of the Benguet Province.
This project is a living testimony of the long-standing cooperation between the people of Japan and the Philippines , and it is hoped that the continuing cooperation between our two countries will foster a strategic partnership between us towards the future.
Project Website:
http://www.benguet-jica.com/
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