
Salcedo is a fifth class municipality located in Eastern Samar. As of 2015, the municipality has registered a total population of 22,532 with 5,427 total number of households. Due to the geographical location of Salcedo, the main livelihood of the municipality depended on agriculture and fishery.
Salcedo is part of the Guiuan Inter Local Health Zone, with its core referral hospital Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital located in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. The municipality currently has 1 Rural Health Unit (RHU) and 7 Barangay Health Stations (BHS), which has 4-5 satellite barangays with their own health and nutrition posts or centers. The RHU serves as the main site of public health programs and other services that are not available at the barangay stations like laboratory, dental, and birthing services. The RHU is also accredited by PhilHealth on the following programs: Primary Care Benefit Package, TB-DOTS, Maternity Care Package, and Newborn-Screening.
Salcedo is part of the Guiuan Inter Local Health Zone, with its core referral hospital Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital located in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. The municipality currently has 1 Rural Health Unit (RHU) and 7 Barangay Health Stations (BHS), which has 4-5 satellite barangays with their own health and nutrition posts or centers. The RHU serves as the main site of public health programs and other services that are not available at the barangay stations like laboratory, dental, and birthing services. The RHU is also accredited by PhilHealth on the following programs: Primary Care Benefit Package, TB-DOTS, Maternity Care Package, and Newborn-Screening.
HEALTH RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Salcedo currently has 1 MHO, 8 rural midwives, 5 DOH midwives, 13 DOH nurses, 212 BHWs, and 103 other health staff. They are properly compensated as mandated by the national government. The health staff reported proper and adequate work scheduling every week and confirmed they have received trainings for Standard First Aid, Basic Life Support, Integrated Management Childhood Illnesses, and Integrated Management Adult/Adolescent Illnesses.
Barangay Health Workers are given an honorarium amounting to P500 from the barangay, and an additional P1800 from the municipality. Besides these monetary incentives, these BHWs are given non-monetary incentives such as the scholarship program being offered to the BHW’s children, as sponsored by UP Palo. A BHW’s child is given the opportunity to enter UP Palo’s ladderized program (only available to the children of BHWs), wherein he/she can study midwifery, then nursing, and even medicine. Furthermore, BHWs are also given recommendation towards civil service eligibility.
Mayor Melchor Mergal sees asking for help from these partners as a sign of being resourceful. Thus, Salcedo takes advantage of the resources being provided by both the local NGOs and international NGOs. Currently, the LGU has partnerships with OxFam, Zuellig Family Foundation, Unicef, and other international NGOs. These partnerships have enabled the LGU to improve 90% of its Barangay Health Stations, including the equipment being used in their health units. Some public health programs are also run through the resources provided by these partners.
Salcedo currently has 1 MHO, 8 rural midwives, 5 DOH midwives, 13 DOH nurses, 212 BHWs, and 103 other health staff. They are properly compensated as mandated by the national government. The health staff reported proper and adequate work scheduling every week and confirmed they have received trainings for Standard First Aid, Basic Life Support, Integrated Management Childhood Illnesses, and Integrated Management Adult/Adolescent Illnesses.
Barangay Health Workers are given an honorarium amounting to P500 from the barangay, and an additional P1800 from the municipality. Besides these monetary incentives, these BHWs are given non-monetary incentives such as the scholarship program being offered to the BHW’s children, as sponsored by UP Palo. A BHW’s child is given the opportunity to enter UP Palo’s ladderized program (only available to the children of BHWs), wherein he/she can study midwifery, then nursing, and even medicine. Furthermore, BHWs are also given recommendation towards civil service eligibility.
Mayor Melchor Mergal sees asking for help from these partners as a sign of being resourceful. Thus, Salcedo takes advantage of the resources being provided by both the local NGOs and international NGOs. Currently, the LGU has partnerships with OxFam, Zuellig Family Foundation, Unicef, and other international NGOs. These partnerships have enabled the LGU to improve 90% of its Barangay Health Stations, including the equipment being used in their health units. Some public health programs are also run through the resources provided by these partners.
EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS
Dra. Campo emphasized the importance of the public health programs in their municipality. Thus, more than doing outpatient clinics, the MHO prioritizes their public health programs covering maternal and child health services, control of infectious and non-infectious diseases, health emergency management, and environmental sanitation. The Rural Health Unit (RHU), in particular, supports programs for Essential Newborn Care Screening, HIV prevention and control, and TB Case finding and awareness.
The LGU heavily invested on its Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health & Nutrition (MNCHN) Program, highlighting the importance of shifting from home to facility-based delivery to improve their Sustainable Development Goal 3. From the enhancement of its RHU as a main Birthing Facility to its PhilHealth accredited Maternity Care Package (MCP), the RHU strengthened its commitment, with the passing of an ordinance prohibiting Hilots to handle home deliveries. Because Hilots outnumber the RHU staff, Dra. Campo started the Buntis Pares Initiative, which was paralleled from the TB-DOTS concept. I This program not only ensures that each mother has access to all the maternal services being offered by the RHU, but also stresses the importance of utilizing proper health facility in providing safe maternal delivery. In conjunction with the Buntis Pares Initiative, the LGU also initiated the Maternal Care Incentive Package which incentivizes the utilization of the health services being provided by the RHU. Mothers are given P1,500 if they complete four pre-natal and four post-partum visits, while the midwife-in-charge is given P500 and P300 to the BHW. Hilot practitioners are also given P500 for every mother they directly refer to the RHU.
Long term, both the Buntis Pares Initiative and the Maternal Care Package Ordinance have allowed the LGU to eliminate the dangerous practice of home births through hilot, increasing facility based delivery from 62% in 2012 to 99% in 2015. They also decreased the municipality’s maternal mortality to zero in 2014 and 2015.
Dengue remains to be a challenge to Salcedo’s overall health. Besides ensuring constant disease surveillance, the LGU also purchased the necessary spray to eliminate possible sources, conducted training for the health on the WHO Guideline in Managing Dengue case, among others.
PWDs are also supported in many of their programs. From being enlisted to getting other necessary services, PWDs are ensured to have access to all the available health services. The MHO also ensures that majority, if not all, of Salcedo’s citizens are covered by PhilHealth.
Dra. Campo emphasized the importance of the public health programs in their municipality. Thus, more than doing outpatient clinics, the MHO prioritizes their public health programs covering maternal and child health services, control of infectious and non-infectious diseases, health emergency management, and environmental sanitation. The Rural Health Unit (RHU), in particular, supports programs for Essential Newborn Care Screening, HIV prevention and control, and TB Case finding and awareness.
The LGU heavily invested on its Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health & Nutrition (MNCHN) Program, highlighting the importance of shifting from home to facility-based delivery to improve their Sustainable Development Goal 3. From the enhancement of its RHU as a main Birthing Facility to its PhilHealth accredited Maternity Care Package (MCP), the RHU strengthened its commitment, with the passing of an ordinance prohibiting Hilots to handle home deliveries. Because Hilots outnumber the RHU staff, Dra. Campo started the Buntis Pares Initiative, which was paralleled from the TB-DOTS concept. I This program not only ensures that each mother has access to all the maternal services being offered by the RHU, but also stresses the importance of utilizing proper health facility in providing safe maternal delivery. In conjunction with the Buntis Pares Initiative, the LGU also initiated the Maternal Care Incentive Package which incentivizes the utilization of the health services being provided by the RHU. Mothers are given P1,500 if they complete four pre-natal and four post-partum visits, while the midwife-in-charge is given P500 and P300 to the BHW. Hilot practitioners are also given P500 for every mother they directly refer to the RHU.
Long term, both the Buntis Pares Initiative and the Maternal Care Package Ordinance have allowed the LGU to eliminate the dangerous practice of home births through hilot, increasing facility based delivery from 62% in 2012 to 99% in 2015. They also decreased the municipality’s maternal mortality to zero in 2014 and 2015.
Dengue remains to be a challenge to Salcedo’s overall health. Besides ensuring constant disease surveillance, the LGU also purchased the necessary spray to eliminate possible sources, conducted training for the health on the WHO Guideline in Managing Dengue case, among others.
PWDs are also supported in many of their programs. From being enlisted to getting other necessary services, PWDs are ensured to have access to all the available health services. The MHO also ensures that majority, if not all, of Salcedo’s citizens are covered by PhilHealth.
INNOVATIVENESS OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS
Because of Typhoon Yolanda, both Mayor Mergal and Dra. Campo realized that more than having the medicines and emergency vehicle, they have to fill in the gap for Salcedo to be truly prepared for future natural disasters. Through its partnership with Zuellig Foundation, DOH, Unicef, and other stakeholders, DRRM-Health Plan was crafted, containing strategies to better respond to any health emergencies and disasters. The LGU Health Emergency Cluster Responders have been organized and trained on the Basic Health Management in conjunction with training on Basic First Aid and Basic Life Support. Workshop and trainings were also done in order to ensure that these tools are disseminated to its citizens down to the barangay level.
Post Yolanda, Dra. Campo has anticipated worsening nutrition across children of all ages. Initial intervention involved the First 1000 Days program with supplementary feeding. However, based on prior experience, more than a lack of resources to buy nutritious food, ignorance was also a major factor. Thus, a Pabasa sa Nutrisyon program was initiated, wherein parents who attend the program will receive three kilos of rice, milk, and Ready-to-Utilize Therapeutic Food as incentives. The Pabasa is hoped to increase the knowledge of parents and encourage them to put into application what they learned. Long term, the LGU is striving to improve its status in terms of the children’s nutritional status.
Aside from the Pabasa sa Nutrisyon program, health staff are also active in its health information campaigns. These campaigns range from Buntis Congress, Tatays’ Congress, Health Summit, and community-based lectured on TB and Adolescent health. These campaigns improved the demand side, ensuring utilization of the available health services being provided by the RHU.
Because of Typhoon Yolanda, both Mayor Mergal and Dra. Campo realized that more than having the medicines and emergency vehicle, they have to fill in the gap for Salcedo to be truly prepared for future natural disasters. Through its partnership with Zuellig Foundation, DOH, Unicef, and other stakeholders, DRRM-Health Plan was crafted, containing strategies to better respond to any health emergencies and disasters. The LGU Health Emergency Cluster Responders have been organized and trained on the Basic Health Management in conjunction with training on Basic First Aid and Basic Life Support. Workshop and trainings were also done in order to ensure that these tools are disseminated to its citizens down to the barangay level.
Post Yolanda, Dra. Campo has anticipated worsening nutrition across children of all ages. Initial intervention involved the First 1000 Days program with supplementary feeding. However, based on prior experience, more than a lack of resources to buy nutritious food, ignorance was also a major factor. Thus, a Pabasa sa Nutrisyon program was initiated, wherein parents who attend the program will receive three kilos of rice, milk, and Ready-to-Utilize Therapeutic Food as incentives. The Pabasa is hoped to increase the knowledge of parents and encourage them to put into application what they learned. Long term, the LGU is striving to improve its status in terms of the children’s nutritional status.
Aside from the Pabasa sa Nutrisyon program, health staff are also active in its health information campaigns. These campaigns range from Buntis Congress, Tatays’ Congress, Health Summit, and community-based lectured on TB and Adolescent health. These campaigns improved the demand side, ensuring utilization of the available health services being provided by the RHU.
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Mayor Melgar highlighted transparency as an important mandate in their LGU’s leadership, making sure that for every plan they produce, presenting them to the public is part of the process. He highlighted the engagement of various offices under the LGU, non-LGU, and civil society organizations. Private and marginalized groups were also mentioned as part of every planning from programs to budget.
Salcedo also has Full Disclosure Policy Boards that are located at public places such as the public market, municipal hall, and at its bagsakan center.
Mayor Melgar highlighted transparency as an important mandate in their LGU’s leadership, making sure that for every plan they produce, presenting them to the public is part of the process. He highlighted the engagement of various offices under the LGU, non-LGU, and civil society organizations. Private and marginalized groups were also mentioned as part of every planning from programs to budget.
Salcedo also has Full Disclosure Policy Boards that are located at public places such as the public market, municipal hall, and at its bagsakan center.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN HEALTH
The citizens of Salcedo are empowered. Its local citizens are involved in program planning and providing proposals for its own local barangay. The Salcedo Local Health Board is active and inclusive of all sectors, both in the government and non-government sectors. Project proposals are incentivized, encouraging citizens to advocate what they truly believe will help their community.
Health staff are well-trained across fields. Specifically, its BHWs received trainings for all IMCI and IMAI, enabling them to act accordingly even in the absence of the MHO. The service delivery network that the LGU has established worked accordingly mainly due to the empowerment of its health staff. From the patient to midwife, each staff knows their respective responsibilities. The health staff are empowered to work independently and with confidence.
The people in Salcedo are encouraged to participate in the Buntis Congress, Tatay Congress, and Family Development Session, wherein they are provided with the knowledge and tools ensuring the best health for the entire family. It is through the conduction of these congress that the RHU are able to disseminate information of the available health services and impart long term approach towards good health practices across their citizens.
The citizens of Salcedo are empowered. Its local citizens are involved in program planning and providing proposals for its own local barangay. The Salcedo Local Health Board is active and inclusive of all sectors, both in the government and non-government sectors. Project proposals are incentivized, encouraging citizens to advocate what they truly believe will help their community.
Health staff are well-trained across fields. Specifically, its BHWs received trainings for all IMCI and IMAI, enabling them to act accordingly even in the absence of the MHO. The service delivery network that the LGU has established worked accordingly mainly due to the empowerment of its health staff. From the patient to midwife, each staff knows their respective responsibilities. The health staff are empowered to work independently and with confidence.
The people in Salcedo are encouraged to participate in the Buntis Congress, Tatay Congress, and Family Development Session, wherein they are provided with the knowledge and tools ensuring the best health for the entire family. It is through the conduction of these congress that the RHU are able to disseminate information of the available health services and impart long term approach towards good health practices across their citizens.
LOCAL LEADERSHIP
Salcedo’s Local Chief Executive is Atty. Melchor Mergal. His overall leadership style is participative, wherein transparency is one of his main mandates and constituents are encouraged to contribute ideas as necessary. Under his leadership, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Salcedo adheres to the tenet of P-A-R-T or Participatory, Accountable, Responsive, Transparent governance. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) also play an important role and are also encouraged to attend planning sessions in order to get insights of the actual concerns on the ground.
Mayor Mergal also draws from experience, always taking into consideration the things that have been done before. One of the most important programs he has is the Project Implementation Review. This, he said, allows him to know what work and do not work, enabling them to move forward with less mistakes in the future. Through this program, Mayor Mergal is able to determine what other things need to be done.
The Municipal Health Officer, Dra. Socorro Campo, takes pride on her being a role model to her staff. She takes her job seriously, which shows in her strict leadership in the health unit. She constantly encourages her staff to do better and be better. As she learned from Mayor Mergal, she also practices participative leadership encouraging her health staff to suggest and come up with ideas to improve their health services. Her ownership to her work is seen in the improvement of their LGU’s health status, with the LGU scorecard as a main basis.
Salcedo’s Mayor-Municipal Health Officer partnership is highly regarded not only by its health staff, but as well as its citizens. Their partnership, they say, works well in making their health system better.
Salcedo’s Local Chief Executive is Atty. Melchor Mergal. His overall leadership style is participative, wherein transparency is one of his main mandates and constituents are encouraged to contribute ideas as necessary. Under his leadership, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Salcedo adheres to the tenet of P-A-R-T or Participatory, Accountable, Responsive, Transparent governance. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) also play an important role and are also encouraged to attend planning sessions in order to get insights of the actual concerns on the ground.
Mayor Mergal also draws from experience, always taking into consideration the things that have been done before. One of the most important programs he has is the Project Implementation Review. This, he said, allows him to know what work and do not work, enabling them to move forward with less mistakes in the future. Through this program, Mayor Mergal is able to determine what other things need to be done.
The Municipal Health Officer, Dra. Socorro Campo, takes pride on her being a role model to her staff. She takes her job seriously, which shows in her strict leadership in the health unit. She constantly encourages her staff to do better and be better. As she learned from Mayor Mergal, she also practices participative leadership encouraging her health staff to suggest and come up with ideas to improve their health services. Her ownership to her work is seen in the improvement of their LGU’s health status, with the LGU scorecard as a main basis.
Salcedo’s Mayor-Municipal Health Officer partnership is highly regarded not only by its health staff, but as well as its citizens. Their partnership, they say, works well in making their health system better.
Building on specific advocacies to reach targets and goals is admirable in any setting. With this practice of the Municipality of Salcedo applied towards various health advocacies, the Champions for Health Governance Awards continues to have hope and strive for good health governance. Through driven and targeted initiatives like those stated previously, accessible and effective health services is definitely not out of our reach.
For more information about the CHG Awards. visit the ABOUT THE AWARDS page; for interested applicants of the 2019 awards, please visit the application page on this website.