President Ferdinand Marcos announced a re-focus on health priorities, incorporating lessons learned from the pandemic and addressing the weaknesses exposed during those challenging times during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
"Ang kalusugan ang ikalawang armas para sa lakas ng pangangatawan ng bawat Pilipino. Isinusulong natin muli ang kalusugan ng abwat Pilipino," Marcos Jr. proclaimed during his address.
"We are now re-focusing our health priorities, applying the lessons learned from the pandemic and addressing the weaknesses that it has exposed," he added.
Advocating for healthier communities and lifestyles, the government has launched convergent programs aimed at addressing hunger and nutrition-related issues, particularly among the most food-insecure populations, especially children.
Food stamp program
"Last week, we introduced the pilot food stamp program which seeks to supply the nutrition needs of million most food poor Filipinos," he announced.
The FSP is designed to complement existing nutrition continuity programs, including the 'First 1000 Days Program,' which ensures nourishment for children during their crucial early developmental years.
Additionally, the 'Supplemental Feeding Program' targets children attending daycare centers, while the 'K to 6 Program' focuses on feeding kindergarten to Grade 6 public school students who suffer from severe malnutrition.
Vaccination of children
The president expressed satisfaction with the progress of routine vaccinations for children, reporting that more than 80% of eligible children have received vaccinations against measles, rubella, and polio as of this year.
Specifically, as of June 2023, over 8.18 million children received the measles-rubella vaccine, reaching 84.3% of the 9.70 million target. Moreover, 2.35 million children were vaccinated against polio, reaching 81.9% of the 2.87 million target.
Healthcare facilities
To further strengthen the country's healthcare infrastructure, he highlighted the increase in the number and capabilities of public health facilities.
Over 3,400 projects were completed last year, aiming to enhance the accessibility and quality of healthcare services across the nation.
Furthermore, the government is actively establishing specialty centers in various medical fields, integrating them into government hospitals.
Marcos reported that an additional 60 specialty centers have been opened to the public over the last year, further improving access to specialized medical treatment.
"To improve capacity for specialized medical treatment, specialty centers in various fields are being established and integrated into our government hospitals. In the last year, additional 60 specialty centers have been opened to the public," he said.
