By Wilson J Hormeguera

The Xavier University - Governance and Leadership Institute (XU-GLI) was invited by the local government of Tudela, Misamis Occidental to conduct a barangay health governance workshop for their barangay officials and health workers.

Facilitated by GLI director Dr Dixon Yasay, the workshop held on June 30 - July 1 at the covered courts of Brgy Centro Napu aimed to capacitate local health leaders in formulating their plans for the delivery of health services and to organize their Barangay Health Board (BHB).

“This workshop challenges our local leaders to focus on strengthening health programs in the community” shared Dr Winona Vega, municipal health officer of Tudela.

The sessions included discussions on their local health system, addressing health inequities in their community, the importance of conducting monthly meetings and regular evaluation, and identifying the causes and implications of deaths using the Three Delays Mode (delay in decision to seek help, delay in reaching care, and delay in receiving adequate health care).

The participants also embarked on identifying the elements of an effective communication plan, enumerating the characteristics of quality information and presenting their Barangay Health Action Plan (BHAP) to the community members.

The workshop was an initiative of the Department of Health in partnership with GLI and Zuellig Family Foundation.

GLI pushes for the empowerment of public servants and organizations in collaboration with other units under XU’s Research and Social Outreach (RSO) cluster and partner institutions.