DOH, USAID, developmental partners bring primary healthcare services in Tondo

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Health (DOH), the local government of Manila, and other implementing partners, kicked off a series of events that provided primary healthcare services and promoted healthy habits among residents of Barangay 20, Tondo, Manila, from November 14 – December 2, 2022.

Dubbed Healthy at Happy sa Barangay 20, the multisectoral activity sought to boost the tuberculosis active-case finding in Manila and promote the importance of the seven healthy habits for disease prevention.

Its activities included health services like free chest X-rays, COVID-19 vaccination, deworming, HIV testing and counseling, family planning, and other perks like feeding, Zumba classes, and barangay cedula issuance.

“We extend our gratitude to the USAID and the local administration of Tondo, Manila for helping the Department of Health push forth initiatives that promote health and wellness to families. Truly, with efforts like these, we are on the road to a Healthy Pilipinas where Filipinos are health-literate and health-seeking individuals striving to achieve optimum health.” said Department of Health Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire.

In its almost three-week run, the event was jam packed and well-received with more than 5,000 Barangay 20 residents.

USAID’s TB Innovations and Health Systems and Strengthening (TBIHSS) project set up mobile chest x-ray vans and joined hands with other development agencies, faith-based organizations, and private sector partners to deliver integrated services under the banner of Universal Health Care.

The Manila Health Department (MHD) identified Barangay 20, with an over 40,000 population, as a priority area because of its social and economic conditions such as the type of houses in the area, employment rate, and population. With a land size of 205,800 square meters, Brgy. 20 is considered one of the largest slums in the Philippines.

For more information about TB, visit https://tbfree.ph/. This includes an online self-assessment tool to help with TB identification and treatment. It may also be used to check for suspected TB, and locate the nearest health facility.

The https://tbfree.ph/ is part of the Department of Health (DOH)’s local communication campaign, Para Healthy Lungs, KonsulTayo, which is supported by USAID’s TB Innovations and Health Systems Project (TBIHSS). It aims to raise tuberculosis as a public health priority in the country using social and conventional media methods.