SORSOGON CITY, April 13 – ChildHILD SPONSORSHIP as the main concern of the Green Valley Development Programme (GVDP) and as an Area Development Project (ADP) of World Vision (WV) highly requires that not only financial, spiritual and material support must be provided to the children in order for them to become worthy and productive citizens of the country in the future. But, what is important for their growth and development is their health status.
The introductory statement made by Sorsogon Provincial Disaster Risk Management Office (SPDRMO) Chief Jose F. Lopez was on the subject of the WV’s first global advocacy campaign: Child Health Now (CHN) which focuses on a single issue: reducing the preventable deaths of children under five.
CHN is an affirmed institutional priority for WV with significant investment in health programming over five years. It is likewise an opportunity to develop advocacy methods that suit the organization’s tradition. WV says CHN is an innovative way of working on an issue that is also being addressed by their health programmes on the ground-adding value to existing programmes and leveraging their presence in the field.
Christopher Estallo, WV’s Manager for Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships was here last Wednesday, March 28 to present the objectives of the CHN through an orientation-consultation which also involved the local media.
WV articulates that 8.1 million children die each year before the age of five (40% - neonatal; 19% - pneumonia; 18% - diarrhea; 10% - other; 8% - malaria; 3% - hiv/aids; 2% - measles) and almost 1/3 of these children can be saved with cheap, effective and easy-to-implement solutions, but governments are unable or unwilling to respond.
“So much so that the Child Health Now as an additional concern which is being encouraged to the sponsored children of the Green Valley Development Programme must be given enough attention, consideration and full support not only of the institution or the community, but more of the government which has the same concern in protecting the social welfare of the people, “SPDRMO Chief Jose F. Lopez explicated.
As a program partner, GVDP’s Sorsogon Area Development Programme is supported by World Vision US. Its ADP Programme Manager is Norma Hernandez.
Jose Lopez said that when it comes to the consideration on how children are affected, or how the Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) program of the province affects the health status of the children, it is a given situation that when children are well-nourished, healthy and properly attended to, socially their vulnerability to different risks in the society is gradually lessened. Unlike if in a calamity or in a disaster situation, while children are one of the very vulnerable elements are much more aggravated if they are sickly. If the children are suffering from different kinds of diseases, it takes a lot of burden to their parents.
“That’s why the CHN which is being encouraged by WV to all their ADPs like the GVDP is highly welcome that it must be thoroughly incorporated for the welfare of the sponsored children and other non-sponsored children whom the GVDP would extend their assistance in the community where they are serving the people,” Lopez said.
WV defines their advocacy campaign as the promotion of justice through changes in policies, systems, structures, practices and attitudes, citizen mobilization and education about human and child rights.
The outcomes according to WV are likely to be an effective and robust advocacy campaign that establishes multi-sectoral partnerships and community health support mechanisms where decision makers and communities are informed on child health issues and children, youth, and communities are empowered to demand for better health services; stakeholders and communities would be sensitized and taking action on child health through the institutionalization of policies, implementation of programs and increase in media coverage of child health issues; and an effective CHN campaign management with monitoring and evaluation plans and mechanisms in place.
Funded by World Vision Canada, Philippines is the 3rd country in Asia to launch this advocacy, according to Estallo.
The WV Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships Manager also considered the media involvement a chance for local television, radio and newspaper to be exposed to areas of WV-GVDP programmes and deliver timely and right information.
The Child Health Now campaign in the Philippines is from year 2011 to 2014. It contributes to the reduction of preventable maternal and child deaths in six (6) ADPs (6 provinces, 3 cities, 3 municipalities and 12 barangays), namely: Alcantara, Bunawan, Estancia, Puerto Princesa City, Oroquieta City and Sorsogon City.
GVDP’s Area Development Programme coverage for the CHN advocacy campaign in Sorsogon City involves two (2) barangays, Macabog and Pamurayan which are both pigeonholed as top areas in malnutrition.
“Among other reasons why these barangays were chosen are the substantial collaboration between agencies and the government as well the cooperation being shown by health workers, “Allan Jerus, Programme Team Leader of GVDP said.
Meanwhile, SPDRMO Chief Lopez stressed that the significance of the project cannot be over-emphasized since health concerns are for the very people, but primarily it must start from childhood. It is a responsibility for any individual, aside from food and other important elements that will develop a human being from childhood. “The health of a child must be first priority,” the official said.
He concluded that without proper attention as the child grows could be stunted, the mind development affected and his or her intellectual capability might not be normal. Not like from birth if the proper care and nourishment lest sufficiently could at least be acceptably provided.
The SPDRMO supports the CHN Project by way of deepening the cognizance campaign for parents and adults so that they would contribute enough responsiveness because in times of crisis, the condition of sickly people particularly children gets worse and their vulnerability to the effects of any hazard or risk in the society is increased further. (Von Andre E. Labalan P.I.O., SPDRMO/PIA Sorsogon)
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