Healthcare is everyone’s business – Mayor Vico  – Manila Bulletin

“Better health outcomes, better healthcare for all, is everyone’s business, not just the government or Department of Health (DOH),” said Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto as he vouched for a multi-sectoral approach in building resilient healthcare systems and fostering healthier communities.

“We all have a part to play. As we continue to build good habits, both from the government and non-government side, let’s continue to work together, have constructive engagement, and do better,” said Sotto during the virtual “Media Solusyon” forum with media partners hosted by the DOH on Thursday, Oct. 20.

Throughout the forum, Sotto emphasized the importance of empowering healthcare workers and engaging communities to cooperate with the government, deeming these as the most essential aspects he must fulfil as mayor of Pasig in service of the city’s healthcare sector.

“My role is to give them [healthcare workers, ancillary workers] the resources, give them what they need. Empower them to be able to do their jobs well, and to give them space to also innovate,” Sotto said.

The local government aims to empower health workers by ensuring the safety of their work, providing them with just compensation, conducting capacity development activities, and enabling policies for healthcare workers’ benefit.

Caring for healthcare workers in this capacity would allow them to make new and more efficient methods of delivering health services, and increase the quality of healthcare in the city, he stressed.

“Hindi tayo dapat nagfofocus lang sa pamahalaan, nasyonal man o lokal. Kailangan i-engage natin ang ating mga komunidad, and our civil society organizations (We shouldn’t focus merely on the national or local government. We must engage with our communities and civil society organizations),” Sotto added.

During the forum, Sotto shared the best practices of the Environmental Sanitation Section of the Pasig City Health Department, which was recently recognized for having the “Best Sanitation Program” in Metro Manila by the Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD), as well as the city’s efforts towards universal healthcare (UHC).

The mayor also encouraged members of the media to search, cover, and share the best health practices being done by various groups around the country in order to raise awareness.