Sarangani children get international aid

KIAMBA, Sarangani (January 29, 2007) - Sarangani Province is again in a trailblazing mode after the Maximizing Access To Child Health (MATCH) was officially launched Friday in Kiamba.

"This program is first in the Philippines," said Dr. Antonio Yasaña, provincial health officer.

MATCH is a project of the International Aid and the United States Agency for International Development which aims to improve health services for children less than 5 years old in the first district of Sarangani.

"With MATCH, we hope to ignite children health care in Sarangani," said Sonny Enriquez of International Aid.

"This is a milestone for us in Sarangani. Usually, overseas development agencies have projects only in barangays or municipalities, but with MATCH, it is the whole first district of Sarangani," said Governor Migs Dominguez.

Three provinces vied for the project. The other two were Surigao and Agusan.

"We are fortunate that we were chosen as the recipient province. And not only that, we have Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum as the project area," said Dr. Yasaña.

MATCH aims to reduce diarrhea, acute respiratory illness, and malnutrition, the formation of care groups and strengthen barangay health stations through community organizers which will deal directly with the households of the three municipalities.

"All we need to do is to support the program in whatever way we can," said Mayor Raul Martinez of Kiamba who challenged the barangay captains of Kiamba to really throw their support to MATCH.

"We need to take care of our children especially the young in order to ensure them a better future," said Mayor Jojo Lopez of Maasim.

The program hopes to achieve immediate results which are the increased knowledge & attitude of caregivers in households, improved quality service delivery in barangay health stations, increased access and availability of services & supplies, improved policy & social environment for childhood services & behavior.

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the local chief executives and the International Aid which states the commitment of the local government in supporting the program. MATCH envisions the first district of Sarangani after three years with no child dying from avoidable diseases (diarrhea, acute respiratory illness) 150,000 people benefited from the program, 29,000 households able to provide proper health to their own families, fully operational health care groups in 54 barangays and highly motivated health care providers. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RIO)