Awareness for PWDs @Esperanza
📌HEALTH INFORMATION AWARENESS⚕️PERSON WITH A DISABILITY HEALTH INFORMATION
AWARENESS REPORT
One of the programs of THE OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL HEALTH OFFICER has been conducted an orientation on the PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS WITH DISABILITY at BARANGAY ESPERANZA, CULASI, ANTIQUE LAST APRIL 21, 2023, under the supervision of the MUNICIPAL HEALTH OFFICER, DRA. ROSELYN E. BABAYEN-ON, headed by the MUNICIPAL MAYOR, HON. JOSE JEFFREY Y. LOMUGDANG.
This program was facilitated by the rural health personnel and staff who helped the beneficiaries process their benefits and provided proper wellness and safety among PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWDS). Has the objective to increase awareness regarding the importance of wellness equality of rights, and opportunities among PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWD) in the society. The target indicator of the orientation is that must complete at least 44 PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWD) that might attain during the orientation And were fortunate to say that the target was exceeded at its original numbers. The program reached 49 attendees who acquired the lecture. So, therefore, the orientation of promotion of health and wellness programs with a disability was successfully promoted to the beneficiaries.
In this initiative, the program was led by the Rural Health Nurse I, MA. HAZEL M. MANALO, who lectured on what is PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWD), and the role must act in the government and in society.
She discussed the process of how the beneficiaries may apply for compliance as the government needed, such as MEMBERSHIP ID and PURCHASE SLIP BOOKLET for them to avail of the benefits that the government should be given. The steps that have to opt just to be able for every PERSON WITH DISABILITY(PWD) to be registered in the future. Nurse Manalo has emphasized that they must do a consultation first, for them to have a record to the Rural Health Center or maybe at the Barangay Health Station to be diagnosed by the medical doctor. The first thing they have to do are, to be checked up by a doctor and to know what kind of disability and how healthy or in good condition in the moment. During the check-up, the doctor will issue a certificate (ex. apparent and non-apparent) after establishing what condition a PWD has. When they receive the certification signed by the medical doctor, they will go to The Office of the Municipal Social Welfare And Development Officer to present the certificate for them to be recognized and be registered as one of PERSON WITH DISABILITIES (PWDS). MSWDO staff will ask you for some information to validate the application. If a beneficiary (PWD) can not make to go to the MSWDO, he/she can authorize a person who is part of his/her immediate family to represent the filing. If not possible to have his/her immediate family, it can replace by his/her cousin, relatives, neighbors, or friends to present documents needed to submit as far as he/she has the authorization to present too.
About the program, MARIA EVE A. BILLENA, Rural Health Nurse, under the contract of service also joined the lecture where she also discussed the Rights of a PERSON WITH a DISABILITY (PWD) and laws on the constitution, Municipal Administrative Order and so on. Her lecture might have been open to the consciousness of anyone who always discriminates against a PERSON WITH a DISABILITY (PWD) .
She began with, Administrative Order No. 2009-001, The Department of Health (DOH) recently issued Administrative Order No. 2009-0011 detailing the guidelines for the provision of medical and related discounts and special privileges to persons with disabilities under Republic Act No. 9442, an act amending the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities (R.A. No. 7277). Under the said A.O., persons with disabilities are entitled to a 20% discount in the purchase of branded and unbranded generic medicines from all establishments dispensing medications for the exclusive use of persons with disabilities; and a 20% discount for the cost of medical, dental and rehabilitation services, diagnostic and laboratory fees in service wards and sections of government health facilities by Clinical Practice Guidelines or Hospital Treatment Protocols and all private hospitals and medical facilities. Other discounted services include psychological or developmental tests in service wards of government hospitals; and speech therapies or services in all private hospitals and medical facilities. In the same administrative order, persons with disabilities who are not yet non-paying PhilHealth members may become PhilHealth members if they are sponsored or enrolled by their respective Local Government Unit (LGU) or voluntarily register themselves as individually paying members. To avail of the discount, a person with a disability must present his//her identification card issued by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) or by the Local Government Units (LGUs) where he/she resides. In addition, a purchased booklet issued by the LGUs to persons with disabilities for free shall be presented every time a medicine purchase is made.
Next in her topic was, RA NO. 7277 As amended by RA 9442, Magna Carta for PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDS). It was about the Criminal Penalties. “Section 46, Penal clause, Any person who violates any provision of this act shall suffer the following penalties. For the first violation she emphasized to the attendees was, a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than two years, or both at the discretion of the court, and For any subsequent violation, a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not exceeding Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) or imprisonment for not less than two years but not more than six years, or both at the discretion of the court. Any person who abuses the privileges granted herein shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six months or a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), but not more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court. If the violator is a corporation, organization or any similar entity, the officials thereof directly involved shall be liable therefore. If the violator is an alien or a foreigner, he shall be deported immediately after service of sentence without further deportation proceedings. Upon the filing of an appropriate complaint, and after due notice and hearing, the proper authorities may also cause the cancellation or revocation of the business permit, permit to operate, franchise, and other similar privileges granted to any business entity that fails to abide by the provisions of this Act.
Moving forward on Nurse Billena's high-lightened issue on RA No. 7277 as amended by RA 9442, Magna Carta for PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDS). Section 32, PWDs shall be entitled to the following; To the extent practicable and feasible, the continuance of the same benefits and privileges given by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), and PAG-IBIG, as the case may be, as are enjoyed by those in actual service; To the extent possible, the government may grant special discounts in special programs for persons with disability on purchase of basic commodities, subject to guidelines to be issued for the purpose by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agricultural (DA); and Provision of express lanes for persons with disability in all commercial and government establishments; in the absence thereof, priority shall be given to them. The above-mentioned privileges are available only to persons with disability who are Filipino citizens upon submission of any of the following as proof of his/her entitlement thereto: An identification card issued by the city or municipal mayor or the barangay captain of the place where the persons with a disability reside;
In addition to her topics, Nurse Billena also lectured the SECTION 1. Section 40 of Republic Act No. 7277 is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 40. Role of National Agencies and Local Government Units. Local government units shall promote the establishment of organizations of PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDS) in their respective territorial jurisdictions. National agencies and Local government units may enter into joint ventures with organizations or associations of [disabled persons] PWDS to explore livelihood opportunities and other undertakings that shall enhance the health, physical fitness, and economic social well-being of PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDS).
Among the concerns that she had discussed, she also wanted to hear some of the PWDs attendees who could share some thoughts and questions about the rights and privileges that possibly gain as time they live. Some of the PWDS have also willing to share their life situations just to grant benefits that the government can offer. Nurse Billena also reiterated a message from our Hon. Jose Jeffrey Y. Lomugdang who had been published in the journal of the Office of Persons with Disability Affairs that says,
“Republic Act 7277 otherwise known as the Magna Carta for PWDS, provided equal rights and privileges to persistent in its effort to adopt and implement the Community-Based Rehabilitation Program (CBRP) as a strategy in addressing the needs of PWD touching their lives to effect change, making them part and parcel of development endeavors. Under the leadership, PWDs play a vital role and have a special place in our development administration and governance. We are doing our best to ensure that quality services are provided to you. The issuance of the Purchase Booklet is a manifestation that we care for you. With this, you can now avail and enjoy discounts and commodities. Rest assured that your plight will always be included in the social development agenda of this administration.”
Before Nurse Billena will end her lecture she requested the attendees to have an energizes, Zumba dance, also led by the RHU personnel.
With an Emcee of the orientation, K E. RABA, Nurse, under the contract of service of the Municipal Health Office, has closed the program with a smile on PWDS faces, making them realize that despite our country's struggling to fight the manacles of poverty, corruption, illiteracy and discrimination into PWDS, we have witnessed their aspirations to live without judgments and criticisms, they can live every day with love, kind and understanding and normal as a human being. And we must never underestimate the power of a million voices shouting the same thing. Moreover, beyond the shouting, we must act together for a common purpose.
In a general manner, there is no point in knowing and studying about the rights of citizens, especially PERSON WITH DISABILITIES (PWDs), if we never know such a thing to defend and protect against those people who always taking advantage of them. Every person has the right to be educated, and PERSON WITH DISABILITIES (PWDs) are no exceptions to this. In fact, in the Magna Carta, it is stated that they are supposed to be given access to quality education and equal privileges and opportunities for learning. I do hope that the government and other agencies will do their best to educate other people on how important life is especially to PERSON WITH DISABILITIES (PWDs) and implement one by one the best that must share with them, as well.
In the prosperity of the program, have to give credit where it’s due to Rural Health Unit Nurses, with proper coordination to the assigned Midwife, Rhodora C. Quibete who has been there to inform and invite them to attend the program, Rhodora C. Quibete, Midwife I, and LGU Job Orders, and to Brgy. Officials, Brgy. BHW, BNS, And Staff.
Much appreciated.
MA. HAZEL M. MANALO
Nurse I
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