Eastern Samar Provincial Health Board Holds Monthly Meeting on Healthcare Improvement

Posted on Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:04 am

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar — The Provincial Health Board convened for its monthly meeting on March 23, 2026, at the PGO Old Conference Hall, focusing on strategies to enhance healthcare delivery, strengthen nutrition programs, and improve public health systems across the province.

Chaired by Atty. Byron Suyot, the meeting emphasized a “bottom-up” strategy, prioritizing the specific health needs of communities starting from the barangay level.

A key initiative discussed is the implementation of digital health profiles for all residents through the Community-Based Monitoring System. By maintaining updated records, provincial officials can accurately track the number of people requiring medication for chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension in each barangay, enabling targeted budget allocation and ensuring essential supplies remain available across all towns.

The board also called for expanded utilization of PhilHealth benefits, with efforts underway to accredit more local health centers. This will allow residents to access free or low-cost maintenance medicines through the PhilHealth Gamot program, reducing the need for long-distance travel to secure basic healthcare services.

In his nutrition report, Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr. noted that while malnutrition rates are declining, progress remains gradual. Stunting, the condition where children are shorter than average for their age, continues to be a concern, though improvements are moving quickly in Borongan. The province is also addressing “wasting,” which affects children who are underweight relative to their height.

Sanitation emerged as another critical focus area, with plans underway for a Water Sanitation Summit in the second quarter of 2026. The initiative aims to ensure universal access to household toilets and proper waste management through treatment facilities, safeguarding the province’s water sources and preventing the spread of waterborne diseases.

The meeting concluded with the approval of several key measures to boost local health funding and community protection. These included a resolution to strengthen safeguards for women and children, as well as a measure granting the governor authority to sign agreements that will bring additional national health funding to Eastern Samar for 2026.

(Photo courtesy: Eastern Samar Provincial Health Board)