Health Projects in the City of Naga, Cebu

Provision of Drugs and Medicines, Provision of Laboratory Equipment, and Provision of

Medical Equipment to Barangay Health Stations
Completed under the 2013 Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process (GPBP)

Medicines and Laboratory / Medical Equipment: Responding to Health Needs

Sa una nga pagplano, nagtuo mi nga plano lang ni kutob ug walay klaro. Pero kadto pag-download na
sa kwarta ug nahatag na ang mga projects, tinud-anay gyud diay ni. (At first we thought that this will
be just another plan. But when the budgets for the projects were downloaded and supplies were
provided, twas then that we realized that this is for real). This is what City of Naga Health Officer
(CHO) Dr. Andres Gestopa said on the realization of the health-related projects identified under the
2013 GPBP, with a total budget worth of Php3795000 thru the Department of Health (DOH).

A 3
rd
class City in the Province of Cebu with a population of 111, 229, the City of Naga is among
those LGUs whose provision of quality health service delivery is beset with many challenges
including lack of medicine supplies and equipment. While the local government unit (LGU) of Naga
always has an allocation for medicines, the GPBP provided an augmentation of resources for
medicines and for other needed health projects for the improvement of health service delivery.
Specifically, the 2013 GPBP completed projects which were officially turned over to the LGU last
March 2014 are the following: (1) provision of drugs and medicines worth Php895000; (2)
provision of laboratory equipment worth Php1500000; and (3) provision of medical equipment for
all barangay health stations (BHS) worth Php1400000.

According to the City Pharmacist Maria Girly Jimenez, the drugs and medicines provided under the
project has helped greatly as they are now able to distribute enough medicines to the 28 barangay
health stations. Apart from the medicines, the barangay health stations are also recipients of the
following medical equipment that are needed for check-up/consultation and emergency delivery
and/or minor surgery: stethoscopes, dressing cart, weighing scales for infant and adult, instrument
tray with cover, BP apparatus, and vaginal speculum test. Ms. Levena Abangan, one of the Barangay
Health Worker of West Poblacion Barangay Health Station, said that they are grateful on the
supplies and equipment provided; especially that they are a new health station catering to 3121
residents.

The laboratory equipment provided under GPB the Combilyzer for urine tests is another
breakthrough for the Citys VMMC lying-in Clinic (LIC). This is in addition to the Humalyzer and CBC
test machine that the LIC already have. The presence of such equipment will help lessen the
expenses of the patients, especially the pregnant women, for laboratory tests. As compared by Ms.
Cristy Badilles, staff nurse of VMMC LIC, a patient usually spends Php500-Php1000 for laboratory
tests in private hospitals or laboratories; however, the LIC will only charge Php60 for each tests and
Philhealth members will not be charged as this is included in the out-patient benefit package
1
. On
their first two laboratory equipment, the LIC is serving an average of 100 patients (mostly pregnant
women and senior citizens) per month for the tests; and with the inclusion of important laboratory
equipment, they expect an increased number of consulting patients in the VMMC LIC and City
Health Clinic.

On the part of the civil society organizations (CSOs), the LPRAT co-chairperson Ms. Gloria Pocot is
also happy on the realization of the health projects identified under the 2013 GPBP. She said that

1
An ordinance for laboratory fees is still under process.
the projects identified and completed are really intended for the poor to access health services at
low costs. Now, poor people can avail health services and laboratory tests with minimum expenses.
As stressed by Ms. Pocot, GPBP is a great process. She further said, Tungod niining GPBP, ang mga
CSOs naka-participate sa gobyerno ug mas maka-suggest og mga proyekto nga gikinahanglan sa mga
kabus (Because of GPBP, CSOs can participate in government and can identify projects needed by
the poor).

Like the rest of the stakeholders, Ms. Pocot looks forward for the GPBP to be sustained because thru
this process, the government especially the national government agencies reaches out and become
more responsive to the needs of the people suffering in poverty.






Cristy Badilles, staff nurse of VMMC Lying-in, presenting and
explaining the use of Combilyer.













Left: Levena Abangan, with two health
volunteers of Barangay West Poblacion
Health Station, presenting the medical
equipment turned over to them. Below:
Drugs and medicines and medical
equipment for every BHS.