DOH urged to clarify its policy on hilots

DAVAO CITY, Nov 19 (PIA) Former Health Secretary Jayme Galvez-Tan urged the Department of Health to clarify its policy excluding the hilot in assisting child-births.

Speaking to reporters following the opening ceremony for the First Health Summit for the Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology in cooperation with the Philippine Center  for Health Research and Development, he said that the policy is silent about excluding hilot in giving birth.

Tan observed the interpretation of the policy has overextended especially down the local government units where expectant mothers are encourage to give birth to the medical facilities, attended by a midwife, nurse or a doctor.

“There is no clear statement that the hilots are excluded,” he said as he pointed out that the policy is misinterpreted by the LGUs.

Tan said that in Region VIII, the hilots tag along with the rural health workers, midwives and nurses in assisting childbirths.

He stressed the hilots play an important role in childbirths among indigenous peoples.

Tan said the DOH must explain the policy well to the LGUs.

He said by itself, the policy is discriminatory prevalent during the Spanish Era and the American occupation where hilots were treated as quack-doctors.

“It promotes more the colonizers’ perspective barring the hilots to assist in giving birth,” Tan said.

He also said there is no basis for the observation that more infant deaths are attributed to hilots.

Tan claimed more maternal and child-deaths occur in the government hospitals since the hospital system does not show much care.

“There is no sensitivity on the part of our hospitals particularly giving special attention to the indigenous peoples,” he said.

Tan also urged the local government units from the provincial to the municipal level to amend the ordinances banning the hilots since the policy statement of the DOH is silent about it.

“I urged the DOH to issue a statement clarifying the role of the hilot being a member of the community health team,” he said.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)