DAVAO CITY, May 31 (PIA) – Some 70 child leaders aged 10 to 14 years old from different parts of Mindanao recently created their Children’s Charter on Health which called for better health services at the community level.
The Charter declared ten statements on health which the young leaders themselves drafted and presented to health and development authorities during the Mindanao Children’s Congress held on May 22-24 in Davao City.
In a press statement, congress organizer World Vision said the Charter written in Tagalog was the children’s “way of responding to the health issues they experienced in their respective communities” and of unifying their “hopes for better ‘Child Health NOW’!.”
The children petitioned for the following: free medical check up and medicines like vitamins, a nurse in every barangay, improvement of feeding program for malnourished children and street children, and sufficient medicines at the “Botika ng Barangay” and school clinics.
The Charter also included the call for awareness-raising drive during barangay health forum engaging parents and children to learn on health programs and child health rights.
The children urged for the enhancement of financial assistance program for the purchase of medicines not available at health centers, and for the provision of home visit program for barangay health workers to check on the condition of children who are sick.
The other petitions called for the provision of needed facilities such as vehicles for health centers, health books and playground in every community; for government programs to reach out to children with utmost need for health support; and for the passage of laws on proper waste disposal.
Sixteen-year old F-Shayne Flores, a World Vision child leader from South Cotabato, has aspired for all children to be protected and healthy.
Flores emphasized the need for children especially the poor not to miss out on the opportunity of availing basic medical and health services, saying “because it is our right.”
World Vision said Department of Health-XI Regional Director Dr. Abdulla Dumama Jr. has given his response to the Children’s Charter on Health saying that majority of the statements have already been established.
Dr. Dumama, however, admitted that the other statements “need to be improved as the poorest areas in Mindanao have limited access to health services particularly for children.”
“I appreciate that these were brought up by the children themselves. We will give action to this by providing the children free access to medicines and vitamins,” World Vision quoted Dr. Dumama as saying during the Children’s Congress.
Aside from DOH, other government child-focused agencies also heard of the children’s stance on health, to include Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Davao City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO), and Davao City Council for the Welfare of Children (DCCWC).
Elnora Avarientos, executive director of World Vision in the Philippines, urged the child leaders to “take part of the development in the community.”
“You may be young but your voice is louder than ours,” Avarientos has stated.
Children’s health concern is among the advocacy programs of World Vision-Philippines which has been assisting 112,000 Filipino children from 37 provinces, 19 cities, and 49 development areas, 12 of which are in Mindanao. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)
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