LBK-KP on Wheels Invades Bulacan

Greetings from the Local Chief Executives of Bulacan

Calumpit, Bulacan – It was one fine Thursday of March 21 when the Department of Health’s Lakbay Buhay Kalusugan – Kalusugan Pangkalahatan on Wheels visited the municipality of Calumpit in the province of Bulacan.

In line with LBK’s mission of promoting health through a fun, festive and entertaining way, the LBK Bulacan team headed by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Jocelyn Gomez decorated the grounds of Northville 9, Iba O’Este with festive colored banderitas resembling that of the fiesta traditions the Philippines is well-known of.

The event started with an Invocation followed by the singing of the Philippine National Anthem led by Himig ng Bulacan.

The participants listen attentively despite the scorching heat

Aside from community town folks and medical professionals, key personalities in the field of local government and health were also present to grace the occasion.

The Opening Remarks was delivered by Hon. Zar Candelaria, Municipal Vice Mayor of Calumpit.

Bulacan 1^st District Board Member Hon. Michael Fermin also gave his message of support to the organizers of the event.

Moreover, Mr. Tony Roda, Division Chief of the National Center for Health Promotion of the DOH Central Office, delivered the Keynote Address. He emphasized that, “Ang kalusugan ay hindi dapat maging negatibo. Ito ay hindi dapat katakutan”, thus the LBK-KP on Wheels is done in a festive environment.

Key personalities during the LBK-KP on Wheels sa Bulacan

Finally, Bulacan 1^st District Representative Hon. Marivic Sy-Alvarado gave her message putting emphasis on what the local government of Bulacan through its Provincial Governor Hon. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado is doing in terms of health promotion, and disease prevention. 

She also highlighted that Health is topmost of the 7-point agenda of the provincial government, which includes Education, Peace and Order, Nature and Environment, Good Governance, Livelihood and History and Culture among others.

A group of mothers with their children listen to lecture

This program was then followed by the ceremonial ribbon cutting for the formal opening of the health education exhibits. 

Among the exhibits were: 1. Handwashing; 2. Dental Hygiene; 3. Pregnancy Care; 4. Unang Yakap; 5. Breastfeeding; 6. Nutrition; 7. Immunization; 8. Basic Family Planning; 9. Women’s Class and 10. Men’s Health. 

A short lecture will be conducted on each booth and a stamp will be provided for those who have completed the exhibits. Once the stamps have been completed, they will be given souvenir items.

A small press conference for the media was then held after the tour of the exhibits.

Talakayan LBK sa Bulacan Press Conference

Sitting as panelists were Calumpit Municipal Health Officer Dr. Rizalyn Lopez, Bulacan Provincial Health Officer Dr. Jocelyn Gomez, Bulacan 1^st District Representative Hon. Marivic Sy-Alvarado, NHCP Division Chief Mr. Tony Roda, and Brgy. Iba O’Este Chairman Hon. Zoilo Manio.

Local Bulacan press and members of the Philippine Health Bloggers Society, Nr. Andrei dela Cruz, Nr. Raim Luga and yours truly were also present during the said presscon.

Ms. Lalaine Santos of DWAP Radio 88.7FM and Bulacan Correspondent Magazine inquired on what LBK-KP on Wheels is all about. Mr. Roda informed the audience that LBK-KP is a health promotion caravan which provides health services to women and children. This is DOH’s initiative of bringing the idea of health back to the people in a more fun and jovial way.

Ms. Shane Velasco of PIA asked about the relation of LBK-KP to the achievement of the MDGs. Mr. Tony Roda also emphasized that LBK-KP is for UHC which in turn is for MDG achievement. He go on further stating that LBK bus is catering to address issues of Maternal and Child Health. National and local statistics for MMR and IMR were also provided.

Walang iwanan sa byaheng kalusugan...

Yours truly, being a representative of the Alliance of Young Nurse Leaders and Advocates International, Inc (AYNLA) and the Philippine Health Bloggers Society addressed my question to Bulacan PHO Dr. Gomez. This is in relation to the raised health concerns of residents of Iba O’Este during the Usapang Kalusugan Pangkalahatan sa Bulacan which was held last August 31, 2012. According to Dr. Gomez, even before the onset of UHC, the provincial government is conducting a series of priority health programs which includes addressing women and child’s health.

Bulacan 1^st District Representative, Hon. Sy-Alvarado added further that her office has allotted a total P1.6M in two (2) tranches for medical assistance, professional fees and medicinal procurement of indigent Bulakenyos.

Furthermore, Mr. Theofel Santos of DWIZ questioned the system of how the patients were being entertained. Calumpit MHO Dr. Lopez answered that the reason why the patients would need to visit the exhibits prior to consultation is due to the fact that this is the main reason for the existence of the caravan. She further mentioned that the health consultation is just an integral part of it.

Next to ask is Mr. Efren Alcantara of DZXL RMN and Editor in Chief of Dyaryong Bulakan. He asked about pertinent details about the caravan like when was it launched, where are its whereabouts and the like. Mr. Roda gave the answers stating that LBK was originally launched in March 2011 at Tarlac. 

In 2011-2012, it visited 18 provinces. It was last February 21, 2013 when LBK was launched again as the Kalusugan Pangkalahatan on Wheels. Among its first stop as LBK KP on Wheels included were Solana, Cagayan and Santiago, Isabela. After the Calumpit leg, it will be going to Sta. Rosa, Laguna and Cavite.

Mr. Alcantara went on further asking, “Who makes the decision as to where the bus will go? What are your qualifications for a particular municipality to be visited, if any?” Mr. Roda then answered stating that the DOH would heed to LGU requests since this is a partnership with the LGUs in terms of involvement and resource mobilization.  “We also check on the municipality’s population density”, Mr. Roda added.

Mr. Roy Reyes of the Bulacan Press Club questioned Mr. Roda on what the DOH NCHP is doing to deal with seasonal diseases and the like. According to Mr. Roda, the DOH NCHP, under Asec. Eric Tayag is doing programs focused on Advisory Summer Diseases, Dengue Campaign, and Diseases of Weather Conditions. LBK is part of the Maternal and Child Health and Health Lifestyle Campaigns.

Mothers await consultation outside the LBK bus

Simultaneous to all these activities, medical consultations for the pregnant mothers, senior citizens and children were also provided. 

The LBK bus served as the consultation room for the pregnant women; while a number of doctors attended to senior citizens and children seeking consultation. 

Medicines were given after the consultations.

After the consultations, medicines were given. Giveaways such as hygiene kits, first aid kits, and other souvenir items were also given.

At the end of the day, thousands of Bulakeños availed of the free medical services. 

A number of fun and interactive games to keep everyone entertained were also conducted by the Provincial Youth, Sports, Employment, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office (PYSEACTO).

Lakbay Buhay Kalusugan – Kalusugan Pangkalahatan is a project of the Department of Health through its National Center for Health Promotion (NCHP). This is in partnership with the Probe Media Foundation, Inc, (PMFI) which provides technical assistance in the project implementation. Other partners include Victory Liner, Alliance of Young Nurse Leaders and Advocates International Inc. (AYNLA), Philippine Press Institute, DKT Starmovers and Dakila. Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism also provides additional support to the project.