PHILIPPINES AND US LAUNCH P8 BILLION HEALTH PROJECTS

Philippine Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique T. Ona and U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr. today launched 13 projects that will help enhance the overall health of Filipino families under the U.S.-Philippines bilateral health agreement.

The projects, which amount to P7.96 billion, will be implemented over a five-year period and will focus on 48 provinces nationwide, including all provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Ambassador Thomas said, “These new projects, to be implemented by the U.S. Embassy Manila’s United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will work on an integrated approach to health service delivery and greater public and private sector partnership.  They will help improve services in the areas of maternal and child health, family planning, tuberculosis prevention and control, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment for most-at-risk populations.”

“We are encouraged by the wide-ranging reforms undertaken by the Philippine Government under President Aquino, and we hope our support will help push the already growing momentum for lasting change in the country, particularly with respect to health outcomes,” Ambassador Thomas added.

“This portfolio is in line with the Philippine Development Plan and the DOH Universal Healthcare Strategy or KalusuganPangkalahatan (KP) and our objective is to help attain health-related Millennium Development Goals through targeted interventions in areas where the poor are most concentrated and unmet needs are highest. We are pleased that USAID is our partner in this initiative,” Health Secretary Ona said.

The U.S. Government, through USAID, expects to contribute to the achievement of the Philippine Government goals to reduce maternal and newborn deaths, reduce unmet need for family planning, reduce TB prevalence, and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

“We are proud of the strong partnership between the DOH and USAID, and look forward to continued collaboration over the coming years as we scale up quality service delivery to improve the health of Filipino families, particularly mothers and children,” USAID/Philippines Mission Director Gloria D. Steele said.

About USAID:

The American people, through the United States Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for over 50 years. In the Philippines, USAID works in partnership with the national government in creating a more stable,prosperous and well-governed country through programs that foster sustainable and inclusive growth, strengthen governance and combat corruption, improve access to water, energy, health and education services, increase environmental resilience and natural resource management capabilities.  For more information, visithttp://philippines.usaid.gov or contact USAID/Philippines Development Outreach and Communications via email: infoph@usaid.gov.

References:     
Ezekiel Enrique

Development Outreachand Communications Specialist

USAID/Philippines            
+632 301-4711

Source: https://www.facebook.com/notes/department-of-health-philippines/philippines-and-us-launch-p8-billion-health-projects-press-release16-may-2013/658215757529337

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International Nurses’ Day: EU and ILO Manila promote decent work agenda for Filipino health professionals

Thousands of Filipino health professionals migrate every year for work raising important questions related to the global shortage and inequitable distribution of health professionals in and between many countries.

Press release | 06 May 2013
Source: http://www.ilo.org/manila/info/public/pr/WCMS_212597/lang--en/index.htm

Photo Credits: ILO Facebook Page

MANILA - The International Labour Organization with a EUR 2 million grant from the European Union is working with professionals in the health-care field to improve the management of the migration flows for the thousands of Filipino nurses who migrate for work every year.

They are implementing a project – Decent Work Across Borders: A pilot project for migrant health professionals and skilled workers – which brings together government, workers, employers, professional organizations and recruitment agencies, to design schemes that will promote the safe, ethical and decent migration of health-care professionals.

The Philippines is one of the most important sources of foreign health workers for OECD and European countries. Around 12,000 nurses leave the Philippines annually to work abroad. In 2010, they represented about 15 per cent of all immigrant nurses in OECD countries.

However, there has been a decline in demand for Filipino nurses abroad in recent years – opening up opportunities for them to contribute to the health of Filipinos at home. The attainment of the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) relies upon national health care systems that are built on sufficient, quality and competent health professionals benefiting decent work.

As other types of migrants, many health professionals are lured by the higher wages abroad but sometimes they find themselves in dire situation, paying exorbitant recruitment and accommodation fees, for instance, which can leave them struggling financially. 

Migration of health professionals is at the junction of the right to mobility, right to access health and right to decent work. 

In this context, managing health professional migration is essential, “the ILO and our social partners strongly believe that migrants are less vulnerable when they are moving out of choice, and not out of necessity. The provisions on migration and development included in the Philippine Development Plan and the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan 2011-2016, are important means to promote inclusive and sustained growth through decent and productive work” says Mr Lawrence Jeff Johnson, Director of the International Labour Organization office, in Manila. 

“Decent work conditions, including a safe migration journey, equal treatment, career progression possibilities and the right to organise, are essential conditions for health professionals to contribute to the development of their countries through remittances or the sharing of their knowledge and skills in the Philippines” adds Ms Catherine Vaillancourt-Laflamme, Chief Technical Advisor for the EU funded ILO-Decent Work Across Borders project.

"The EU counts ILO as a key international partner in putting into action a migrant-centered, human rights-based approach to labour migration and shares ILO's commitment to pursue the Decent Work for All Agenda in the Philippines", says EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux. 

As part of its knowledge sharing remit, the project has teamed up with the Alliance of Young Nurse Leaders and Advocates in devising a photo competition, which allows young Filipino health workers to share their thoughts and experiences of migration.

In collaboration with the Philippines Nurses’ Association, the winners will be announced on 9 May – ahead of International Nurses Day on 12 May.

The top 21 entries for the photo competition will be available for public viewing between 6 and 10 May, at the foyer of the RCBC Plaza, in Makati.

For more information, please contact:

Mr Margarito Raynera, Jr., EU Programme Officer, +63 2 859 5100, Email 
Ms Thelma Gecolea, EU Public Affairs Officer, +63 2 859 5124, Email

Ms Catherine Vaillancourt-Laflamme, ILO DWAB, +63 2 580 9917, Email 
Ms Minette Rimando, ILO Media, +63 2 580 9905, Email

Tags: decent work, skilled workers, international migration, labour migration

Regions and countries covered: Philippines

Unit responsible: ILO Country Office for the Philippines

Reference: MANILA/13/03

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2013 - CLOSING THE GAP: MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS. 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. The International Council of Nurses commemorates this important day each year with the production and distribution of the International Nurses' Day (IND) Kit. The IND Kit 2013 contains educational and public information materials, for use by nurses everywhere.

The IND theme for 2013 is: Closing The Gap: Millennium Development Goals 8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. The content of this year's kit, including the poster image are posted here as downloadable documents for use by individual nurses, associations, health ministries and health institutions. This material has already been disseminated to national nurses' associations worldwide. Though mainly planned around May 12 each year, IND activities continue for much of the year by nurses and others. We encourage nurses everywhere to make extended use of the Closing The Gap: Millennium Development Goals 8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 kit throughout the year, through individual action and group activities. (www.icn.ch)


Download the IND 2013 Kit Here

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Philippine Professional Nursing Roadmap Coalition Public Statement

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ILO-DWAB Online Photocontest announced the winners!

Manila, Philippines — AYNLA and ILO announced the winners of the Decent Work Across Borders (DWAB) Online Photo Contest, Wednesday, April 24, 2013.

After the rigorous judging process, four (4) out of the twenty one (21) entries that qualified for the second round of judging, were declared as winners. The judges were composed of the ILO Manila Senior Program Officer, a Program Officer from the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, a seasoned local and international photojournalist and the President of one of the health professional organizations in the Philippines.

The online photo competition winners include the following:

First Prize - Sa puso, sa isip at sa gawa by Ms. May Shelly Obial (Australia)

 (In our hearts, in our minds, and in deeds)
Description: Young Filipinos migrate to different countries not only for their own financial and professional benefits. A sense of patriotism and love for home country always lives within. While the significance of their migration is realized though the development of their careers in a multicultural and world-class workplace, the pride and honour they give back in the name of the Philippines is certainly a lifetime achievement.

Second prize - In Service of Filipinos by Mr. Rex Billie Cabangcal (Australia)

Description: The Filipino youth transcends the qualities of the general global workforce. With the right optimism, moving energy, world-class training and sincere hospitality, we extend our health care expertise not only to our homeland but overseas as well. The world needs the Filipinos and we are ready to help with a smile.

Third prize (tie) - I am Filipino Nurse by Ms. Lailyn Polig (Benguet Province)

Description: Filipino Nurses are branded worldwide as the nurses who have the tender, love and care towards their patients. This why they always have the enormous opportunity to migrate – they are always in the number one list of professions that are demanded abroad. This photo conveys the happiness that the nurse feels by getting the chance to work abroad. Migration presents a chance for nurses to build their skills and knowledge and especially help others by sharing their capability and giving unconditional care. As a community nurse, it is great and heart-warming for Julia to be able to give back her services to the community. The community helped her to have enough experience. She is very thankful and looking forward to coming back and work as a nurse in the Philippines.

 We are Ready by Mr. Juan Karlo Reyes (Quezon City)

Description: This photo illustrates that these Filipino nurses are ready to face any challenges that they may encounter in working abroad. With the right knowledge, skills and attitude, they are equipped with tools that are at par with others. Having the compassion and positivity that a Filipino is known for, we can say that our nurses can work well at the international arena.

Winners shall be receiving 600 USD (1st Prize), 400 USD (2nd  Prize) and 200 USD (3rd prize) respectively. The awarding of prizes will be on May 9, 2013, 6:00pm at the Makati Medical Center Auditorium during the activity entitled "Nurses Got Talent". This activity is sponsored by Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) in celebration of International Nurses Week.

Further, the ILO DWAB will be honoring the nurses around the world by exhibiting the 21 photos at the RCBC Plaza Yuchengo Tower I Lobby, Ayala Avenue in Makati from May 6 to 10, 2013. The title of the exhibit is "Migration: Images and Perspectives from Young Health Professionals." Nurses and other health & non-health students and professionals are welcomed to visit the exhibit and view the photos during the said time. 

The DWAB Online Photo Contest project is funded by European Union (EU) and implemented by International Labour Organization (ILO) in partnership with Alliance of Young Nurse Leaders and Advocates International, Inc. (AYNLA).

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