The Southwestern Aklan Inter-Local Health Zone I–B Pharmacy was launched in an appropriate ceremonies last August 9, 2006 in Numancia, Aklan. Said Inter-Local Health Zone is composed of the municipalities of Lezo, Madalag, Makato, Malinao and Numancia.
The launching event started with the blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremonies of the southwestern Aklan ILHZ I–B Pharmacy at the Municipal Health Center, with Dr. Lydia S. Depra – Ramos, Regional Director of the Center for Health Development – Western Visayas (CHDWV), and Gov. Carlito S. Marquez doing the honors.
In the program that followed the blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremonies, Mrs. Garcia B. Ureta, a DOH representative, led the opening prayer. This was followed by the singing of the National Anthem, led by Mrs. Filipina Mabasa, another DOH representative. Makato Mayor Ramon S. Legaspi, Jr., Chairman of the Southwestern Aklan ILHZ, then gave the welcome address. Miss Aubrey Tolentino, a student of Madyaas Institute, sang a song number for an intermission.
Governor Carlito S. Marquez gave a fitting message, and so did Dr. Lydia S. Depra-Ramos, the Regional Director of the Center for Health Development – Western Visayas (CHDWV), She came all the way from Iloilo City for the occasion.
Each of the town mayors of the five municipalities – Mayor Fred Arcenio of Lezo, Mayor Rex Gubatina of Madalag, Mayor Dominador Ilio, Jr. of Malinao, Mayor Ramon S. Legaspi, Jr. of Makato, and Mayor Ernesto I. Templonuevo of Numancia – gave words of commitment. Each pledged, in the name of their respective towns and townsfolk, their all-out cooperation to the success of ILHZ Pharmacy project.
Mr. Josue T. Maravilla, Secretary to the Mayor of Numancia, and of the Southwestern Aklan ILHZ, was master of ceremonies.
Among other things, in his speech, Gov. Marquez said, "the launching of the Southwestern Aklan ILHZ Pharmacy marks a major milestone in the Provincial Government’s efforts to ease our people’s problems in the availment of basic medicines. With the cooperation and support," he emphasized, "of the Center for Health Development – Western Visayas (CHDWV) headed by Regional Director Lydia S. Depra-Ramos."
"Medicines that will be bought from this ILHZ Pharmacy," the Governor stressed, "and in the Botika Sa Baryo that will be put up in the barangays of the five municipalities composing Southwestern Aklan Inter-Local Health Zone I–B, will be priced at about 50 percent lower than the prices for these medicines in the standard commercial drugstores."
Initially, the Governor revealed, the Southwestern Aklan ILHZ Pharmacy will be stocked with some P50,000 worth of various medicines. And he challenged the people in-charge of this project to make the undertaking viable. To make sure that the succeeding stocks of medicines will already be procured using the resources generated from the operations of this pharmacy project.
Dr. Lydia S. Depara-Ramos, Regional Director of CHDWV, who traveled all the way from Iloilo City (with some stocks of medicines) to attend this special occasion, said that there are four Inter-Local Health Zones in Aklan. And this Southwestern Aklan ILHZ I–B Pharmacy is the first one to be launched – not only in the province but in the whole region as well. She commended the Aklan Government under the leadership of Gov. Marquez, and the rest of the LGU executives in the province for having facilitated the realization of this laudable project which she said will go a long way towards complementing, and enhancing, the government’s program on health service delivery.
The ILHZ Pharmacy launching program was also attended by some officials and health workers of the five towns composing the Southwestern Aklan ILHZ I–B. Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo of Kalibo was also present, as a special guest and observer.
With the ultimate establishment of the Botika Sa Baryo in these five towns, as provided for in the concept of the ILHZ project, both Dr. Ramos and Gov. Marquez expressed optimism that the need for cheaper medicines of the people of Aklan, especially the poor and marginal families, could be served better. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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