Ratio of health human resource to population is of high demand in Eastern Visayas as intensively discussed during the First Quarter 2017 Regional Implementation and Coordination Team (RICT) Meeting held on 8 March 2017 at the Conference Room, Department of Health Regional Office VIII, Government Center, Palo, Leyte.
In the DOH VIII 2016 Accomplishment Report, health human resource particularly nutritionist is highly needed to augment the high prevalence of malnutrition in the region. As mentioned there are only four (4) nutritionist occupying an item position at the DOH retained facilities in the region or highlighting to a manpower to population ratio of 1:1,093,869.
DOH VIII Director and Chair of the RICT, Dr. Minerva P. Molon said that health human resource is a challenge in achieving health targets in the region. However, the deployment of nurses through the Nurses Deployment Program (NDP) augments in most cases the government’s health programs implementation. Strengthening the collaboration with the local government units to supply manpower especially the Barangay Nutrition Scholars can be one of the strategies.
In the 2015 DOST-FNRI Updating Survey, Eastern Visayas plagued with the highest prevalence of stunted (height/length for age) children under five years old at 41. 7% while wasting (weight for height/length) is at 8.4%. The high prevalence of malnutrition is noted most at geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) where food insecure households are found.
The DOH RICT Committee meeting intends to abreast, discuss and resolve issues concerning health. ###