World Vision rebuilds 25 health centers in Haiyan hit areas
by Leoniza O. Morales, Haiyan Response Communications
Health care service is among the most vital needs of every community. In the Philippines, a functional health center is a very important to address child malnutrition and the needs of pregnant mothers.
The lack of better health service was aggravated when Haiyan, the world’s most powerful typhoon struck the country almost six months ago on 8 November 2013. Based on the data of World Health Organization, more than 2,000 health facilities in Regions VI,VII and VIII in Visayas island were completely destroyed or damaged.
573 of these are much needed public health care facilities and with thousands injured in the worst hit areas, responding to the needs of the survivors was an enormous challenge to health staff also affected by the typhoon.
World Vision will restore 25 health centers and stations in the provinces of Leyte, north Cebu, Aklan and Iloilo to help ensure good health and well being of children and families after Haiyan.
“In the recovery phase, interventions will focus on repair of damaged facilities such as rural health units and village health centers, provision of medical equipment and supplies and building the capacity of local health workers,” says Health and Nutrition Manager Eureka Fuentes.
Help came in the midst of the difficulties
Village health worker Joy Medina in Old Kawayan, Tacloban City tells how the 10 meter storm surge ripped the roof, walls and carried to the sea the medical equipment and medicines in their health center.
“After the typhoon, it was difficult and very costly for parents to bring their sick child to the district health center and city hospital which are 17 and 20 kilometers away,” recounts Joy.
Aside from providing relief goods and setting up of Child Friendly Space (CFS) and Women and Young Children Friendly Space (WaYCS) to help children, pregnant women and lactating mothers come into terms of the distressing experiences during the typhoon, World Vision also rebuilt the village health center.
Medical equipment like blood pressure apparatus, prenatal bed, digital thermometer, nebulizer, weighing scale, height board and other medical supplies were also provided.
Carina Opiniano, 28 year old and a mother of three young children, is more than grateful and excited upon learning that the new health center has opened. “This is good news for all of us, especially mothers like me. I don’t need to travel far to bring my four month old baby for regular immunization and check up.”
Barangay (village) captain Antonio Marteja says, “The newly repaired center is even much better than what we had before. After the village council assessed the destruction of Yolanda (local name of Haiyan), we were worried it would us a long time to fix it. But World Vision came at the time when we most needed help.”
Aside from the repair of health centers, World Vision has currently served 713,150 people in the provinces of Leyte, north Cebu, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo and Samar. 1,740 pregnant and lactating women and 2, 318 children below five years old were assisted in the 14 Women and Young Children Space.