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Botika ng Barangay in Agusan del Sur

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MikeLigalig.com:
First Convergence Botika ng Barangay set up in Agusan

Agusan del Sur (4 July 2005) -- Acute respiratory infection, diarrhea and wounds of all types, are recorded the top three leading causes of morbidity in the province which affects thousands of children and adults alike from year 2000 - 2004, according to records of the Provincial Health Office.

For these reasons, Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza launched the convergence development program designed to improve the quality of life of the Agusanons. One of the strategies identified is the setting up of Botika ng Barangay, which sells cheap, quality medicines in areas where these are most needed.

Botika ng Barangay (BnB) is not new in the province. In fact it was started by the Department of Health in the early 1980s, along with foreign donor, the United Nation Family Planning Assistance Program. Sadly, however, the project was not sustained in other areas for lack of popular popular.

Now, under the administration of Gov. Eddiebong Plaza, in support to the Arroyo Administration's 10-point legacy agenda with the slogan "BEAT THE ODDS", the Botika sa Barangay aims to provide safe, effective and quality medicines that are accessible and affordable for the poor people, most especially in far flung barangays.

According to BnB focal person Nanette Cabanos of the Provincial Health Office, setting up a BnB should follow a system in order to make it effective and sustainable. She added that the Provincial Management Team, composed of provincial health workers, municipal and barangay health workers was created to set up, supervise, monitor and prepare the necessary requirements and make all BnBs sustainable in the long term.

"We have started the phase 1 early in January of this year. We conducted consultations, surveys, seminars and orientations to ensure that people understand what is BnB, its benefits, the concept of ownership of the business and the support it needs from the community," Cabanos reported.

She also added that along the process of implementation, their team have innovated and improved the manual to suit the demand of the different areas and make the system effective and applicable in Agusan del Sur. Ms Cabanos said they made sure that the community fully accepts and supports BnB. They have trained 10 accredited operators instead of one and sign a memorandum of agreement among provincial health office, local government unit and operators.

"Barangay Duangan of Esperanza is our first established BnB in the province and we are now in the phase 2 of the implementation, which is the downloading of medicines. The provincial government has already extended P20,000.00 for the medicines which would serve as the seed capital. But said assistance will be paid by the BnB within a 3-5 year period without interest", Cabanos disclosed.

According to Cabanos, once fully operational, BnB will provide an early identification of illnesses as well as treatment in the area thereby lessening the congestion of hospitals and clinics. She also said that the program is believed to reduce ambulant sellers of fake medicines because even the poor could now buy the medicines needed at the Botika ng Barangay at a very low price. (PIA)

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