North Cotabato hospital get 200 wheel chairs from DOH

KIDAPAWAN CITY- North Cotabato's biggest government hospital has received 200 brand new wheelchairs from the Department of Health (DOH) as the government pushes for an improved health services to indigents across the country.The new wheelchairs will be used for Differently Abled Persons (DAP) for the (North) Cotabato Provincial Hospital (CPH) and other government hospitals in the province.According to Zandro C. Casado, DOH-12 senior health program officer, the wheelchairs allotted to CPH are intended for the use of DAP, particularly in keeping up their health and wellness.The wheelchairs arrived last May 18 along with an endorsement sent by Casado to Cotabato Governor Emmylou Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza, providing for the guidelines for the use and distribution of the equipment.Casado said DOH-12 will continue to partner with the CPH in effecting the programs and projects of the health department under its Universal Health Care Program Kalusugan Pangkalahatan” (KP) which aims to achieve inclusive growth, poverty reduction and bring better health to the populace especially the poor.Dr. Eva Rabaya, chief of Integrated Provincial Health Officer (IPHO), said that aside from its use as mobility aide devices, wheelchairs provide added independence and more valuable life for DAP. These wheelchairs will become part of the lives of disabled persons and it is so important that we provide them the equipment so that they can have a certain level of independence” Rabaya said, adding that without wheelchairs, many DAPs will be left feeling isolated. In many instances, disabled persons, after receiving wheelchairs have a changed outlook in life and that their relationships with their love ones improved, she said.Rabaya said health workers in the province are also elated with the assistance knowing that the arrival of the wheelchairs will benefit many disabled persons who need long-term use or appropriate adaptation of wheelchairs.Gov. Mendoza said providing health care to the DAPs is one of the top priorities of her administration.To successfully implement this program, the provincial government continues to partner with the health department. We want our brothers and sisters with disability particularly those in need of wheelchairs avail of our distribution and make them more comfortable and also productive even in their very home,” the governor said.