By: Rodrigo S. Victoria
NAVAL, Biliran, – “Biliran province is a top performer in term of health program implementation in Region 8 based on its health scorecards”.
This was the public pronouncement of no less than the top official of the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) in his visit in the province as guest to the ceremonial declaration of Biliran province as a “Rabies-Free Zone” on October 11, 2012.
Dr. Jaime Bernadas, regional director, DOH-8, informed that Biliran province along with the province of Southern Leyte were top performers in 2011 in the region in terms of implementing health programs.
The DOH-8 chief revealed that Biliran province was already officially declared as a filaria-free province in 2010 and as a rabies-free zone this year.
He also mentioned that the province of Biliran has no reported cases of malaria and schistosomiasis.
However, Bernadas said that there were reported cases of leprosy in the province but it is manageable and tuberculosis which he considered one of the highest in the region.
He included the HIV case which he said is not a problem in the province but it can come with the urbanization of Naval, the capital town of Biliran province.
The top official of DOH-8 who hails from the province of Biliran and whose roots come from the town of Kawayan, expressed confidence that the province can achieve more of its health programs.
He reminded the LGU officials and the health personnel to be vigilant on the emergence and re-emergence of these diseases.