4 southern towns form health zone

At least four towns in the south have recently signed an agreement forming the Inter-Local Health Zone (ILHZ), a move that aims to strengthen Cebu province’s health services.

Mayors of Boljoon, Oslob, Santander and Samboan signed the memorandum of agreement together with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia at Oslob District Hospital.

Under the agreement, local health officials would undergo enhanced trainings and seminars to improve their skills.

There is also a monthly technical working group meeting to tackle problems and to come up with ideas to improve their respective health units.

The agreement also calls for local government units to contribute funds for medical supplies, equipment and other health services, and to set up programs and activities like the putting up of animal bite centers.

The provincial government has also established another ILHZ for the towns of Argao, Dalaguete and Alcoy, which is the most functional health zone in the province.

An ILHZ is composed of neighboring municipalities whose main function is to improve networking and strengthen cooperation among themselves with regard to health matters.

Stakeholders in the ILHZ include the Center for Health Development of the Department of Health, provincial government and the private sector.

Functions of the ILHZ are to formulate, implement and evaluate: 1) local health plans, 2) health information system, 3) two-way referral system, 4) health resources management and development system, 5) health care financing, 6) hospital regulation and management, 7) community mobilization, and 8) benefit monitoring and evaluation. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM