By Perla Lena/PNA
ILOILO CITY — The Department of Health – Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) on Friday honored 231 individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions in ensuring the success of its various health programs in Western Visayas.
“Today, we praise and give recognition to our partners who have shown exemplary performances and outstanding contribution in achieving health program benchmarks,” Abdullah B. Dumama Jr., DOH Assistant Secretary for Field Implementation and Coordination Team for Visayas and Mindanao cluster, said in his keynote address.
Sharing his journey to being a doctor and now working with the DOH, Dumama said he “realized that he could not save or change the world by himself and he needs the help of others.”
“I am humbled and inspired to be in the company of men and women who have given public health service a good name,” he said, adding that he has witnessed how the common people “rise up to the challenge to be the everyday heroes of their community.”
The awardees covered performers under the non-communicable cluster with 62 awardees; health emergency with 19; infectious disease cluster, 61; family health and nutrition cluster, 41; regional epidemiology and surveillance unit, 8; and health and advocacy promotion, 27.
CHD 6 (Western Visayas) also recognized the Aleosan District Hospital, Capiz Doctors Hospital and the Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial Hospital under the Health Facilities and Technology Cluster. The hospitals were recipients of the DOH 30 Star Awards that were given in Manila last month.
They were able to meet the criteria set forth under the safety and infection control, service provision, customers’ and employees’ satisfaction, community-based projects, and quality improvement categories.
Seven local government units received the Western Visayas Local Health Systems Regional Awards — the province of Capiz; Iloilo City; Bago City and Silay City in Negros Occidental; Dumalag, Capiz; Nueva Valencia, Guimaras; and Concepcion, Iloilo.
Special Awards on Governance were also extended to the province of Guimaras; Bago City of Negros Occidental; and Concepcion, Iloilo.
“All of us made tremendous effort in order to survive what were seemingly unreachable goals. Big work and dedication led us to where we are now,” Dumama added.
The awardees received a plaque of appreciation during the ceremony held at the Eon Centennial Resort in Jaro district, this city.
