USAID

TACLOBAN CITY, Oct. 29 (PNA) – Tabontabon town in Leyte gets a newly constructed Tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment Short course (TB-DOTS) and rural health facility through the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Turned over Wednesday to the local government unit of Tabon was the Php2 million health facility, one of the 12 health facilities being built by the USAID in the province.

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said that the province is thankful that local government units are supported in providing facilities for TB patients, recognizing that DOTS remain at the heart of the Stop TB campaign of the national government.

“I am just so thankful too that we are able to open the Rural Health and TB-DOTS Facility here in Tabontabon, Leyte so that we may be able to immediately extend our services in terms of treatment and other care services to our TB patients here,” Petilla said.

USAID made sure this new facility, including those which are being constructed in other towns such as in Carigara, Burauen and Abuyog, to withstand typhoons and earthquakes, so that the devastation that occurred in 2013 does not happen again. Medical equipments were also provided so the facility can be immediately used.

USAID is also partnering with local authorities to build 250 classrooms in the province while helping small entrepreneurs, particularly sari-sari store owners, get back on their feet by building 1,000 stores and supplying them with goods to sell. This is a partnership with U.S. private companies Procter & Gamble and Coca Cola.

On the other hand, farmers and fisher folks are also beneficiaries of the USAID’s planting and aquaculture materials and training that will help them produce alternative crops and high-value species of aquaculture.

Petilla added that with all these help from the USAID and other private organizations, the province can further strengthen its health facilities and programs and help communities become more resilient in the face of health challenges.

The turnover of the health facility was also one of the highlights of the town’s 62nd founding Anniversary this week. (PNA)
FPV/SQM/AHLETTE C. REYES/EGR