Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Health Programs For Agrarian Communities Mulled

NORTH COTABATO (Olga Zambrano / 21 Jun) Support to Agrarian Reform Communities in Central Mindanao (STARCM) forged a partnership with the provincial government of North Cotabato for the improvement of health services in agrarian beneficiaries in this province.

The project aims to reduce tuberculosis and maternal, infant and child mortality cases in 21 ARCs of the 12 municipalities in the province and improve the health condition of the residents of the ARCs by strengthening the existing primary health care programs.

STARCM will provide assistance such as the funds for the construction of health stations, provision of medical equipment and other services related to family planning and maternal and child health services and tuberculosis control program.

It will also fund activities like the strengthening of health workers and committees through capacity building and extend financial assistance for the implementation of activities specified in the intervention package of the STARCM Strategy for improving health services in the ARCs.

The provincial government, as the support entity, will provide technical and manpower support in conducting trainer’s trainings for health committees and workers in the villages.

Through its Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), the provincial government would use technical coordinators on family planning and maternal and child health and tuberculosis programs to supervise and monitor the intervention package of STARCM in selected ARCs. By the end of 2007, STARCM expects a significant improvement in the these health programs.

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