Patin-Ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur Concerned about the proper care of thousands highland village people, the provincial government of Agusan del Sur launched the health care for mothers and children of indigenous people (IPAs).

The signing of a landmark manifesto to institutionalize the health care program of the IPs was witnessed by top officials of the province early this week at the provincial training center here.

The historic launched was called Indigenous People-Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health and Nutrition (IP MNCHN), where Agusan del Sur Gov. Adolph Edward G. Plaza was the leading officials in the signing of the manifesto.

The IP MNCHN delved on the main thrust of giving primary health care to IP pregnant women and the child after giving birth.

The IP MNCHN will run until 2016. However, officials of the province and concerned line agencies of the government assured that they will not stop their health services assistance even after 2016.

The manifesto signing was also witnessed by officials from the Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine Army, Police, Department of Health, Provincial Health Office, Municipal Health Office of San Luis and Philhealth.

To immediately implement the program, the provincial government and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and United Nations Population Fund will initially serve the lumads of Tagbuligan ku Banwaon Manobo daw Talaandig dini ta Adgawan (TagBaMaTaad) Ancestral Domain in the far-flung areas in San Luis, also this province.

Meanwhile, one of the concerns of this new health program for the IPs is the lack of midwife in highland village communities. Though currently the organization is sponsoring five midwifery grads on their review for the upcoming licensure exam and all of them came from San Luis but still this is not enough to compensate their number.

Gov. Plaza has assured that midwifery will be included to the covered courses for the Provincial Scholarship Program, so that all the women will be safe in times of their pregnancy and delivery.

The said project is also aligned to the Joint Memorandum Circular No.2013-01 Guidelines on the delivery of Basic Health Services for Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous People signed by the Secretaries of Department of Health (DOH), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

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Health care for indigenous people