ILOILO City — This city is stepping up its primary healthcare push through a global partnership aimed at preventing deaths and improving long-term care for children living with Type 1 diabetes.
The city government has partnered with the Changing Diabetes in Children program to expand early detection, treatment, and sustained care, with officials highlighting the initiative as a critical intervention as Iloilo upgrades its healthcare system.
The collaboration was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed on March 17, signaling a broader strategy to integrate specialized diabetes care into primary health services.
Mayor Raisa Treñas said the initiative aligns with the city’s ongoing health reforms.
“This project is very timely because we are upgrading our healthcare system. Right now, we are upgrading our district health centers into primary healthcare facilities,” Treñas said.
She said the partnership is expected to widen access to essential medicines and services.
“This pilot project will really set a mark in our district centers. We are grateful for partnerships like this because they help us maximize access to healthcare for our residents,” she added.
The program will enroll children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and provide comprehensive care, including insulin, monitoring devices, and patient education.
Kenneth Samaco, project manager of Changing Diabetes in Children, said the initiative targets up to 1,000 beneficiaries in Iloilo City and the province by 2028, while focusing on improving quality of care.
“We have targets, but we focus on quality over quantity,” Samaco said. “As long as no child dies from Type 1 diabetes and more families are able to access services, that is already success for us.”
He added that the program aims to generate evidence supporting the management of diabetes at the primary healthcare level.
“We are gathering enough evidence so that eventually we can present to the Department of Health that services for Type 1 diabetes work at the primary healthcare level,” Samaco said.
Under the initiative, a multisectoral working group will be formed, alongside a patient registry system to ensure continuous monitoring and care.
Participants will receive insulin, glucose testing kits, and access to trained healthcare providers. The program will also include diabetes camps, community engagement, and capacity-building for health workers.
Samaco emphasized that patient empowerment is central to the program.
“If they are capacitated, they can manage diabetes on their own,” he said, noting the daily challenges faced by children in school, physical activities, and social settings.
The program also features localized and inclusive health education materials tailored to young patients.
“We consulted the children themselves, and many of them actually prefer English. So we adjusted the materials based on what they understand,” Samaco said.
To improve accessibility, materials include QR codes with voice prompts for visually impaired users, as well as videos with sign language and subtitles.
“We designed this based on our target audience. If they cannot understand the material, then it will not be effective,” he added.
The initiative is supported by several partners, including Handicap International Federation, Novo Nordisk Philippines, and Roche, which will provide technical support, insulin supply, and glucose monitoring devices.
The Iloilo City Government, through the City Health Office, will lead implementation, service delivery, and patient monitoring.
The partnership aims to establish a sustainable diabetes care system in Iloilo City through 2028, improving health outcomes and quality of life for children living with Type 1 diabetes./PN
