LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Provincial health officials led by Dr. Jackson Soriano, OIC provincial health officer, were elated to learn that one of the top priorities of Dr. Jamie Agbayani if elected governor is further expansion and improvement of the delivery of basic health services to the grassroots.

“We are very glad to hear that because there really are things needed yet to be done in the area of health care delivery, especially with regards to upgrading our hospital facilities and infrastructure and public health programs,” Soriano said.

However, he said, the province has made big strides in the delivery of basic health services and hospital reforms under the administration of Gov. Victor Agbayani.

Soriano said that, for instance, the province has been consistently chalking up a high performance rating in its expanded immunization program.

“We are scoring an average of 83 percent in our various vaccination activities, especially among pre-school and grade school children,” he said.

The various vaccination activities are aimed at polio eradication and elimination of measles, maternal and neo-natal tetanus, diphtheria, pertussia, hepatitis B infection, tuberculosis meningitis and other forms of communicable diseases.

A total of 62,193 out of targeted 65,907 grade school pupils have been given BCG vaccination last year.

Soriano said that with the support of Gov. Agbayani, his office is set to conduct more outreach immunization sessions to cover drop-out children.

Also, he said, the Kalusugan sa Barangay medical-dental surgical mission will be expanded to cover more remote villages.

Soriano said that more than 195,000 patients have been served through the Kalusugan program spearheaded by Dra. Jamie Agbayani herself. (PIO/Jennifer Domantay)