LEARN AND SHARE

HIV/AIDS Service Delivery Care D Infant Care

High Impact 5

The Department of Health (DOH) is the principal agency in the Philippines responsible for ensuring
access to basic public health services for all Filipinos through the provision of quality health care and
regulation of providers of health goods and services.

According to Article XIII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the State shall adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health,
and other social services available to all people at an affordable cost.

The Department of Health (DOH) has several programs and policies to ensure that health services are
provided among Filipinos. These programs include family health, prevention, and control of
communicable and noncommunicable diseases, environmental sanitation, and other health programs.

Apart from developing health policies and programs, the DOH also regulates and monitors the
performance and standards of health institutions in the public and private sectors. The DOH Centers for
Health and Development (CHDs) are the implementing agencies in provinces, cities and municipalities,
and link national programs to Local Government Units (LGUs).

DOH on Environmental Health

The DOH includes the assessment and control of environmental factors that can potentially affect
health. It aims to prevent diseases by creating health-supportive environments.

Some of the laws and programs that advocate healthful surroundings are the following:
• Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003)

This law enforces the segregation of wastes into biodegradable, compostable, and reusable wastes. The
collection of solid wastes is also conducted at the barangay level, with the municipality or city
spearheading the management of solid wastes.

• Philippine Clean Air Act (RA 8749)

Pollution prevention is the main concern of this law. It aims to provide for a comprehensive
management program for air pollution and encourages the participation of an informed and active
public in air quality planning and monitoring.

• Philippine Clean Water Act (RA 9275)

The law applies to water quality management in all bodies of water. It aims to control land-based
pollutants that destroy and contaminate Philippine waters.

• Climate Change Act (RA 9729)

The government encourages sustainable development so that human needs are fulfilled while the
quality of the natural environment is preserved for the benefit of the current and future generations.

Other Health Programs

The government has also enforced laws that protect the people from different infectious and
communicable diseases. Some of these laws are as follows:
1. The Universal Health Care High Impact Five (UHC-Hi-5) is a strategy which aims to produce the
greatest improvements in health outcomes and the highest impact on the priority, vulnerable
population, with focus on five critical UHC interventions prioritizing the poor, providing tangible outputs
which are felt within a breakthrough period of 15 months through synchronized nationwide
implementation of activities.

nob b

HEALTH

2. The National Tuberculosis Control Program aims to reduce by half the TB prevalence and mortality by
2015. At present, the implementation of DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course) in the
community health center is still active and it is visible in TV advertisements. The program uses the
slogan, "Kapag nag-DOTS, TB ay nagagamot!"

3. National HIV/STI Prevention Program

Its objective is to reduce the transmission of HIV and STI among the most at risk population and general
population. It aims to mitigate its impact at the individual, family, and community level.

4. Diabetes Prevention and Control Program

The goal of this program is to reduce morbidity, mortality, and disability rates due to chronic lifestyle
diseases, such as diabetes. The program aims to raise awareness of diabetes through a comprehensive
program on the prevention and control of the public's lifestyle and health choices.

5. Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease Program

6. Sentrong Sigla

It is a program of the DOH and LGUs that monitors the competencies of health clinic workers to improve
their work and quality of service. They assess various health institutions so that improvements may be
done to their facilities, training, services, equipment, etc.

7. National Dengue Prevention and Control Program

The program aims to reduce the morbidity and mortality rate from dengue infection by preventing the
transmission of the virus from the mosquito vector.

Activity

Form groups with six to eight members. Make a five-minute commercial that promotes one of the
programs of the DOH. Plan your commercial and make sure the theme is within the purpose or
objectives of the DOH.

HEALTH

KEEP IN MIND

➤ The Department of Health (DOH) is responsible for developing health policies and programs, as well
as the regulation and monitoring of the performance and standards of health institutions in the public
and private sectors.
➤ The DOH has enforced laws that control environmental factors which may affect the health of the
population. Some of these laws include the Ecological Waste Management Act (RA 9003), Philippine
Clean Air Act (RA 8749), Philippine Clean Water Act (RA 9275), and Climate Change Act (RA 9729).

➤ The government also has laws that protect its people from the different communicable diseases.

EVALUATION

What is the goal of the following programs for the control and prevention of communicable diseases?

1. Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease Program

2. Diabetes Prevention and Control Program

3. National HIV/STI Prevention Program

4. The National Tuberculosis Control Program

5. National Dengue Prevention and Control Program

VALUES INTEGRATION

The different health programs of the government are being implemented to ensure the health of the
community. In return, how can you, as a Grade 8 student, support and follow the implementing rule of
the government?