People's participation for a 'healthy' Guimaras
One thing in common and distinct to communities in the Province of Guimaras are families able to better manage their own health and be instrumental in health-related development projects.
Despite the difficulties posed by rising cost of living, locals in five barangays of San Loreanzo, five barangays in Buenavista, five barangays in Jordan, five barangays in Sibunag and four barangays in Nueva Valencia stand as perfect examples of what people's participation can do to effect change in the community.
Realized through a Small Grant Scheme (SGS) and supported by the Official Development Assistance (ODA), these villages had a year in training and planning that now equipped them with the knowledge they need and improvement of the health facilities and services.
The SGS was designed to strengthen the capacity and ability of these Guimaras communities that enabled them to plan, implement, manage, monitor and evaluate community-based projects. Accordingly, the SGS was the cornerstone for development of strategies that enhanced community-initiatives for health.
There was community diagnosis and health planning, mobilization of community members, trainings and provision of infrastructure system such as water system and toilet facilities.
The program also established linkages between the stakeholders and the agencies involved here.
A completed ODA project for some three years now, Guimaras communities continue to reap the success and grow "healthier" in a program that brought people's participation and taught them how to do it right and do it best.
Governor JC Rahman Nava, co-chair of the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC) was instrumental in bringing this ODA program here.