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Public Health Education Programs in the Philippines

Public health programs in the Philippines are commonly administered through government hospitals and health centers in local villages. In 1993, the country's Department of Health launched its Hospitals as Centers for Wellness program. It assigned each hospital a health education and promotion officer. In 2010, programs are geared toward managing the major health issues that affect the country.

  1. Tuberculosis

    • In 1997, the Department of Health launched DOTS, which stands for the directly observed treatment short course strategy for managing tuberculosis cases in the Philippines. All government hospitals implemented this program and it is still in place today. Patients treated in a DOTS clinic are educated about their condition before treatment begins. Health workers emphasize the need for followup and strict adherence to the treatment regimen. The patients and their families receive ongoing health education and counseling throughout the course of treatment.

    Children

    • The Department of Health created the Under Five clinic program to cater to children under 5 years old. This age group has relatively high mortality rates. As parents take their children to receive regular checkups and immunizations, public health workers disseminate information on childhood development and the management and prevention of common diseases.

    Family Planning

    • The Family Planning Program garnered attention in 2010 with its push to emphasize family planning by using government funds to buy contraceptives. Public health centers previously had relied mostly on donations from private organizations. Government-funded contraceptives and the proposed inclusion of sex education in the Philippines' school curriculum elicited criticism from the local Catholic community.

    Dengue

    • Dengue, or hemorrhagic fever, is one of the most prevalent diseases in the country during the rainy season. A disease carried by mosquitoes, dengue is common in populated urban areas where the water supply and waste collection are inadequate. The Department of Health launched the "Four o'clock Habit," a campaign that urges residents to clean their surroundings and drain water containers every day at 4 to prevent the spread of disease-carrying mosquitoes.

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