The World Health Organization (WHO), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the Department of Health (DOH) Regional Office XI launched on 18 August 2015 at SMEX Convention Center, Davao City a three-year Subnational Initiative (SNI) project called "Accelerating Convergence Efforts through Systems Strengthening for Maternal and Newborn Health" or AcCESS for MNH. The project aims to improve the health of mothers and newborns in 10 local government units (LGUs) in Davao Region.
AcCESS for MNH was initiated by WHO to support the strengthening of health stewardship at the subnational level. As a subnational initiative, it provides catalytic technical and advisory support to DOH Regional Office XI and partner Local Government Units to hasten convergence of efforts for the health and survival of mothers and newborns, especially among the most disadvantaged populations. The 10 project sites will be in Compostela Valley (Maco, Mabini and Pantukan), Davao del Norte (Tagum City and New Corella), Davao Oriental (Manay and Caraga), and Davao Occidental (Sta Maria, Malita and Don Marcelino).
WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Dr Shin Young-soo and Korean Ambassador Jae-Shin Kim provided inspirational messages during the launch. In his message, Dr Shin stated that in the Western Pacific Region, Philippines is one of only two countries, with China being the second country, where WHO is implementing comprehensive subnational support. Dr Shin further said that the Philippine subnational initiative “attracted the support of the Korean Government as a sustainable way to support improved maternal and newborn health outcomes” among local government units (LGUs), paving the way for the realization of AcCCESS for MNH for the Davao Region.
“We started working with Malita, Davao Occidental focusing on strengthening local planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation to improve access to quality primary care services”, said Dr Shin. “The initiative supports the health stewardship role of the local chief executives, the local health boards (LHBs), and the DOH Regional Office in Davao which works to provide technical assistance and support to LGUs responsible for service delivery."
Korean Ambassador Jae-Shin Kim emphasized the support of the Korean Government for the subnational initiative.
WHO Philippine Representative Dr Julie Lyn Hall presented the WHO Subnational Initiative and emphasized that WHO endeavors to “make people, especially the vulnerable and disadvantaged and their unmet health needs – more visible and thus worthy of our priority concern.”
DOH Assistant Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial affirmed DOH support for the subnational initiative and the AcCESS for MNH Project. DOH Regional Office XI Director Abdullah Dumama Jr highlighted the relevance of the AcCESS for MNH Project to address the health needs of the communities, with focus on mothers and children. He further stressed the alignment of the project to the health vision of “no mothers and newborns dying from delivery-related causes (Walang nanay at sanggol na namamatay dahil sa panganganak) in the Davao Region.
Davao Regional Development Council Chairman and Davao del Norte Governor Hon Rodolfo del Rosario in his message read by Provincial Health Officer Agapito Hornido, declared support for the project. He stressed the need in sustaining the progress with the creation of sustainable systems. He said: “Our approaches must also be community-oriented since the sustainability of our efforts depends on a strong sense of local ownership. Our approaches should further support the broad spectrum of health care, particularly focusing on reaching those hard-to-reach areas.”
The project launch was attended also by Commission on Population Executive Director Dr Juan Antonio Perez, local government officials, WHO, KOICA and DOH staff, as well as other health and population workers in Davao Region.