Expansion of health care coverage for students ok’d
LINGAYEN–The Essential Health Care Program (EHCP), initiated in 2009, will soon be implemented in all public elementary schools in the province to reduce instances of absenteeism among students.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan started reviewing at the committee level last week the proposed “Ordinance Adopting the Essential Health Care Program for the Province of Pangasinan” to improve wellness among pupils.
EHP is an initiative of the Department of Education (DepEd) in partnership with the provincial government, other local government units, and non-government organizations (NGOs).
Anna Rose Capispisan, the Regional Project Officer of Fit for School, the NGO partner for EHCP, explained the program will focus on the three preventive interventions, daily handwashing with soap, daily toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste, and bi-annual deworming.
Capispisan said studies indicate that absenteeism among students is mainly caused by tooth decay.
“Ninety-seven percent (97%) suffered from dental carries, sixty-seven percent (67%) from intestinal worms and thirty percent (30%) are malnourished,” the ordinance said, citing data from the National Oral Health Survey of the DepEd and the University of the Philippines Institute of Health.
Dentists assigned at the different school divisions in the province who were present during the hearing expressed full support to the proposed ordinance.
FACILITIES
Meanwhile, Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario, one of the sponsors of the ordinance, said the construction of handwashing and toothbrushing facilities will come first.
This is to “provide maximum support to ensure sustainability and efficiency of the program,” he said.
Under the ordinance, the provincial government will also provide the toothbrushes, fluoride toothpaste and soaps for all the children enrolled in the public school system.
So far, only school Divisions Pangasinan I and II implement the EHCP.
In school year 2011-2012, about 5,300 students underwent the EHCP, which was given a budget of about P133,000 by the provincial government.
Capispisan noted that the EHCP is being fully implemented in other parts of the country such as Davao City, Guimaras, and Cebu.–Margarette R. Macob
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