QUEZON CITY, Philippines – President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III on Monday led the launch of “Alaga ka para sa Maayos na Buhay” (ALAGA KA), an advocacy campaign of the Department of Health and Philippine Health Insurance aimed at providing the country’s 14.7 million indigent families greater access to primary health care services.
In his speech, the President invited the attendees – some 2,000 indigent families from different parts of Metro Manila – to fully partake and utilize the benefits offered by ALAGA KA.
The President said the ALAGA KA advocacy campaign aims to raise the people’s awareness of the programs offered by the DoH and PhilHealth.
Among the health programs that poor families avail are TB treatment package, and free health treatment in public hospitals, he said. Apart from these, government health program also offers micronutrient supplements, maternal and neonatal care package, and family planning services.
He said that through these programs, people are empowered not only to seek medical treatment but also to prevent the spread of diseases.
Aquino said Philhealth and other related government health services have been able to keep up with the demand because of proper management of the nation’s resources.
Among those who joined the President at the launch held at the Quezon Memorial Circle were Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista, DOH Secretary Enrique Ona, Philhealth president and CEO Alexander Padilla and Department of Education Secretary Armin Luistro.
ALAGA KA is a collaboration between Philhealth, DOH, local government units and other stakeholders in the health sector to make sure that indigent members and those from the poor segment of the population are properly instructed on how to avail themselves of these basic health services at the rural health units and health centers where they are assigned, Padilla said.
Padilla is also the chair of the ALAGA KA steering committee.
