BURAUEN, Leyte, Nov. 3 (PNA) — All 1,393 villages in Leyte province will receive basic medical kits from the Department of Health (DOH), a local official said.
Leyte Vice-Governor Carlo Loreto, brother of Health Secretary Janet Loreto-Garin said the distribution is in response to the request of the provincial legislative body to the DOH.
Last week, the DOH distributed medical kits to 77 villages. The kit includes blood pressure (BP) apparatus, which is badly needed in areas far from town centers.
The distribution in Burauen was welcomed by village officials who said that the kit will help them in monitoring blood pressure of residents.
Through the BP apparatus, village health workers can monitor the blood pressure of the residents and make recommendations to seek medical assistance in rural health units when necessary.
“Because of limited funds, not all villages can buy medical kits,” said Ben Gernali, village chief of Villarosas in Burauen town.
Loreto said that aside from medical kits, the DOH also inked an agreement with the Department of Education (DepEd) for the construction of health centers in every elementary school.
Only villages that have no existing health centers will get the project. Records show that only 380 villages in Leyte have health centers.
“DOH will provide the personnel who will be assigned in health centers. This will not only address the needs of medical personnel in every village, but also the needs for presence of medical personnel in every school,” Loreto added. (PNA)