By: Romelyn Torralba
Manila, Philipines- June 23, 2016, the Department of Health celebrated its 118th Anniversary by highlighting the Bayani ng Kalusugan (Heroes of Health) Award to honor individuals and organizations, who in small and large circles have rendered a part of their life to contribute meaningfully to the community towards Universal Health Care (UHC).
The 2016 DOH Bayani ng Kalusugan (BNK) Awarding Ceremonies had 323 nominations, 44 shortlisted nominees and finally, twenty awardees.
Together with the BNK Award were also the different program awards harmonized for due recognition. DOH ROXIII with the LGU champions were awarded for the following accomplishments: 1) 3rd place (Category 1)- Search for Barangays with Best Sanitation Practices (San Agustin, Surigao del Sur), 2) Disease-free Zone Award for rabies for the province and municipalities of the Province of Dinagat Islands, 3) Manuel L. Quezon Award for the province of Surigao del Sur.
The representatives of DOH regional office XOIII was spearheaded by RD Llacuna and ARD Cassion. The event was opened and closed by outgoing Secretary Janette P. Loreto-Garin with President Benigno Aquino III as the keynote speaker and who handed out the awards.
In her closing remarks, Secretary Garin emphasized, " There will always be two bottlenecks to success. The Bottlenecks of funding and the bottlenecks of human resource...but we always ask ourselves, what is our priorities?" and in almost closing she also said, "..because what we propose is impossible without the cooperation of our partners, LGUs and other agencies. The success of the department is a success of everything."
Secretary Garin served the agency for one year and six months with Asec. Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial as her successor for the new administration.
The BNK Awarding Ceremonies reflected the 118 years the Department of Health of unending efforts to provide quality health service to the Filipino people. With the changes of trends and health demands, DOH is always up to whatever is needed to be achieved.
