Foundation Implements Programs: Improves Lives in SOCCSKSARGEN Region

Continuing on their efforts on health and livelihood, BingoPlus Foundation (the social development part of DigiPlus Interactive) is taking their social development work down south, particularly in General Santos City. Choosing this place amongst places that needed help must have been a hard task especially for what they plan on doing.

This means they will be bringing KalusuganPLUS and KabuhayanPLUS which are some of the programs they have successfully implemented in other areas which need access to public health, job opportunities too. After all, they wouldn't be just giving out things, but have them learn to fish correct?

This not only would affect individuals, but more of families and communities. Sanitation facilities were awarded to different barangays like San Isidro, Tinagcan, Ligaya, Bawing and Calumpang. This area alone houses 3000 people, so now they all have access to clean water and proper sanitation which is important in urban living. Some of these towns actually have indigent families from the Badjaos, a sea/shore dwelling tribe in the region. This also coincides with the local government unit's efforts especially in health and sanitation, to prevent folks from getting sick from waterborne diseases which happens a lot in the SOCCSKSARGEN region.   
 
KabuhayanPLUS also gives them proper training so they could achieve skills and use it to earn a living. They even teach people dressmaking and tailoring. They get TESDA certifications which they can use later on if they want to pursue something in the industry. This has also given single mothers/parents opportunities to earn, to put food on their table... and for their families.   

From beyond providing aid, this foundation's programs will not only give them what they need now, but beyond that. It would give them hope, and a future that is stable, healthy, and still living.

KIM CHIU Gets Renewed with SISTERS

I guess it's true for Kim Chiu to say that when it rains, it pours! She's unstoppable as she gets another feather to her hat as she gets renewed with Megasoft Hygienic Products Incorporated's brand Sisters Napkins and Pantyliner. 

This coincides with Megasoft's 24th Anniversary. Aside from the endorsements, they have spruced up the packaging on the premiere product line. The event was also attended by Megasoft Vice President Ms. Aileen Choi Go whom we've seen a couple of times during events from their brand.

She laments "Kim has the same values as us at Megasoft. You've seen her doubly work hard in the different projects she's in including shows like her recent hit series Linlang and What's Wrong with Secretary Kim. During out small talk while shooting the material for Sisters, you could feel her enery and how she lights up the set whenever she's there. She's very fun to be with, and still stays quite humble, and always takes good care of herself. Needless to say, she's admired by countless people who know her across the country!"

Kim was ecstatic and said "I am so thankful, honored, that Megasoft trusted and believed in me eversince. Being part of their brand and their advocacy of empowering women across the country, I'm excited on what we could do more this year. It's another partnership with Sisters!"

Kim will be part of Sisters efforts as they take their different roadshows and events in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. They continue to educate women about hygeine. All of these are very meaningful initiatives which they will also talk about on Kim Chiu's vlog. They will also make sure that their products will be affordable, but still maintain quality at the forefront. This is just the beginning of another fruitful year!

Congratulations Kim!

Parañaque Models Digital Health and Augmented Telemedicine

The advancements in health and telemedicine efforts have increased since after the pandemic. This goes the same with the development of platforms, its monitoring and reporting. While we move on with our lives and increase workload to earn a living, the use of these digital health tools come at a very crucial time to service the greater population in need of health services wherever and whenever they need it. Much of these also come to also produce intrinsic health data so both the government and private sector would be able to analyze organizational performance, instances of appointments, and various patient-doctor related information which can be tracked strongly.

In the event hosted by SeeYouDoc (MA) Analytics, Barangay Health workers and Doctors from 16 Barangays from Parañaque City shared their experiences in their respective local government units and communities. Their goal of better health services are really in the forefront.

Dr. John Juliard Go the National Professional Officer of WHO Philippines says "I see we are blessed and happy, our pilot barangays in Parañaque certainly has done a lot in the past few years. In our aim to promote health and create access to quality services, telemedicine has been in regular discussions in WHO about its implementation on how to promote and harness technology plus our efforts to scale it up. The guides served as a really good basis to do health services during the emergency state/pandemic. The meaningful use of it beyond that must be guided especially on regulatory part, and how to address inequity. It has to be trusted and be used by individuals and healthworkers. This is not just for the privileged, and must be supported with adequate resources to institutionalize it. This is important for universal healthcare, we look forward to see how you experienced it and see what challenges are being felt and see where we can sustain. Mabuhay!"

Dr. Olga Virtusio the City Health Officer for Parañaque City Health Office adds "Sitting beside Dr. Jojo is a little fun. In behalf of our Mayor Eric Olivares, and VM Joanne Villafuerte, Cong. Edwin Olivares, our Barangay Captains, with our friends from WHO and SeeYouDoc, the advance implementation of our telemedicine wouldn't be successful without you. After being in the city for 6 years, this has been improving the coverage in Parañaque. Albeit in a geographically limiting area, we have addressed access to health care and we will begin to share this in other cities, places around the country. Here's to watching this in action, be with us in the journey. In the end, no one should be left behind. That's what we mean by Alagang Parañaque."

Recent achievements from Parañaque include 704,904 population, 7K 4P's included, lesser infant mortality rate in the last 5 years, improvement in infant and maternal death rates, 10/16 Hospitals are Primary Health Providers, providing Animal Bite care in Health Centers, increase in consultation rates, improvement in vaccinations. They also have given 683 teleconsultations and still have SeeYouDoc appointments where much are new and male patients. ICT equipment have also been delivered, providing internet and facilities for much of Health Centers in the city. They also have data coming from focus groups after the pandemic. Current challenges include budget, health equipment, need for young health workers, transportation, different medicines and training for health workers. 

The obvious thing here is the cooperation of public and private institutions have greatly augmented health service delivery and will increase universal health coverage in the city, to hopefully have it be implemented in other parts of the country. One health worker won't be doing this alone, with guidelines and procedures in place, a lot of Filipinos would benefit from it especially in health management, logistics, support in these communities.