Baguio’s barangay health system featured at Pasay Health Summit

BAGUIO CITY – City Health Services Office (CHSO) chief Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, representing Mayor Benjamin Magalong, shared the city’s established system for barangay health planning and implementation, at the 3rd Pasay City Health Summit, June 19, upon the invitation of Pasay City Mayor Vico Sotto.

CHSO information officer Karl Jon Pagada said the activity was attended by members of the Pasay City council, barangay council and its health department.

Brillantes stressed the importance of barangay leadership, political will, and data-driven planning and briefed participants on Baguio’s barangay livability index, data accumulated, proximity to health centers, access to water, and a barangay multi-hazard map, among others.

She said these data are presented to each barangay to identify specific needs promoting the prioritization of projects and activities for health in the community.

Brillantes also highlighted the good practices of barangays in the implementation of the Barangay Health Action Plan (BHAP) and Barangay Nutrition Action Plan (BNAP).

Among the Summer Capital’s health practices is the establishment and active role of the barangay smoke-free task force and anti-dengue task force, and the inclusion of maintenance medicines in each barangay budget.

Initiatives of barangays include operation “tuli”, blood donation drive, active involvement among youth focusing on adolescent health and mental health among others, she added. – Gaby B. Keith