Surveillance in Post Extreme Emergencies & Disasters (SPEED) September 2012 A collaboration of the World Health Organization and the Philippine Department of Health - Health Emergency Management Staff (DOH-HEMS) Special Edition SPEED Wins Galing Likha-Kalusugan Award Taking the lead in improving the health information management in the Philippines, the Department of Health Health Emergency Management Staff (DOH-HEMS) and the World Health Organization received the Galing Likha Kalusugan (GLK) Award of Excellence for their collaboration on SPEED or Surveillance in Post Extreme Emergencies and Disasters. Besting more than 50 other innovations in the country, SPEED also garnered the Award of Merit which commends the trailblazing web-based innovation as the world s first early warning disease surveillance system that has nationwide coverage. The award was given to SPEED as one of the best examples of the highest level of innovation in the country s health marketplace. GLK is the first and only award that specifically honors ground breaking health programs and initiatives that have made considerable impact on the country s health system. Other winners are PhilHealth LINK and Mother Bles Birthing Clinics from Region VIII. The GLK Awards, handed out last September 4, 2012 in Hotel Intercon in Makati City, is a culmination of a year-long search for the best health system innovations in the Philippines. It is a joint initiative of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI), an international organization devoted to identifying and replicating innovative health programs around the world funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. WHO Programme Officer, Dr Gerrie Medina and DOH- HEMS Director, Dr Carmencita Banatin received the award for SPEED. WHO SPEED Team, Dr Aura Corpuz, Dr Gerrie Medina, Ms Christine Ringor with AusAID representatives Counsellor Katie Whitting and Ms Anne Orquiza during the Galing Likha-Kalusugan Awards night.
The winning partners: WHO and DOH-HEMS SPEED teams onstage with PIDS President Dr Josef T. Yap and Steering Committee member, Dr Ruben Flores of Fabella Memorial Hospital and the Asian Hospital Federation. The WHO SPEED Team led by Dr Soe came in full force to support HEMS Director, Dr Banatin during her panel presentation in Makati. Also present was SPEED web developer, Dr Ayedee Domingo. As part of the GLK screening process, a national round table discussion of the nominated health innovations was held last July 31 in Makati City. The top ten GLKA finalists each gave a 10-minute presentation on their programs and answered questions from the 20-member panel of health experts acting as competition judges. AusAID representatives were present to witness the awarding 2
ARTICLE FROM PIDS WEBSITE C Three innovative health programs receive the Galing Likha-Kalusugan Award elebrating Filipino ingenuity and inventiveness in the healthcare sector, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) confers the 2nd Galing Likha-Kalusugan (GLK) Awards to three outstanding innovative health program. These programs are the Surveillance in Post Extreme Emergencies and Disasters (SPEED), Mother Bles Birthing Clinics and PhilHealth Link. In an awarding ceremony held on September 4 at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati City, these programs were honored for their invaluable contributions in making healthcare more accessible, available and affordable to Filipinos. The event was attended by top health experts in the country led by Dr. Eduardo Banzon, President and Chief Executive Officer of PhilHealth. The Galing Likha-Kalusugan (GLK) Award is a distinction given to public and private organizations that best exemplify the highest level of innovation in the country s health marketplace. GLK prides itself to be the first and only award that specifically honors ground-breaking and promising health programs and initiatives that have significantly solved a particular problem plaguing the country s healthcare system. As such, GLK hopes to be the stamp for excellence and innovation in the field of healthcare delivery, finance, facilitation, regulation, and promotion. In addition, it hopes to promote and encourage creative and fresh approaches in uplifting our countrymen s health. disease surveillance system for post-disaster situation launched by Department of Health and World Health Organization in 2010. The aim of the system is to determine early and potential disease outbreaks and monitor disease trends. It contributes immensely in reducing preventable deaths and diseases by enabling timely and appropriate response by local government officials. Using web-based software technology which can receive data via SMS, the system enables online data validation and automatic generation of necessary reports. Thus, it makes the transmission of syndromic diseases information from barangay or evacuation centers to all levels of the health system country in a short period of time. GLK is a joint initiative of PIDS and the Center for Health Market Innovation (CHMI), an international organization devoted to identifying and replicating innovative health programs around the world. Now on its second year, the CHMI in the Philippines identified and documented 80 innovative health programs. And through a meticulous screening process conducted by the PIDS and several esteemed health experts, ten (10) of these programs were shortlisted for the award. Of these programs, three (3) emerged truly outstanding in concept, implementation, and impact and were honored and recognized as the top recipients of the first Galing LikhaKalusugan Awards. Mother Bles Birthing Clinics (MBBC) are networks of PhilHealth accredited birthing health facility started in Leyte Province. The program aims to provide poor pregnant women with accessible and affordable maternal and infant health care services. Ninety-five (95) percent of clients of MBBC are PhilHealth indigent members, and the remaining 5 percent are either nonphilhealth or paying clients. The business model of Mother Bles Clinics harnesses the comparative advantages of the following sectors through private-public partnership: KaKaK Foundation Inc., private practicing midwives, municipal and provincial government. SPEED is an early warning PhilHealth LINK is a call center for PHilHealth members, a collaborative enterprise supported by provincial local government units who want to maximize reimbursement from PhilHealth so that LGU health facilities can have a steady revenue stream. This project was launched by PhilHealth Region VIII in 2010. PhilHealth LINK is particularly useful for households whose premiums are subsidized by local government units under the Sponsored Program, and who may not be fully aware of the benefits they are entitled to and how these may be availed of. With the success of the second GLK Awards, PIDS vows to continue its search and recognition of innovative health programs in the country. In line with the global thrust for universal healthcare and the promotion and encouragement of creative and fresh approaches and solutions to the country s healthcare problems, the PIDS and its partner, the CHMI, thereby hopes to create a healthier and better nation. Originally posted in the website of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) http://www.pids.gov.ph/index2. php?pr=83 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE For being one of the Top Three Programs AWARD OF MERIT For being one of the Top Ten 10 Finalists 3
NATIONWIDE SIMULATION IN 17 REGIONS When disasters happen, Is the country s health reporting system ready for disasters? This was the question that was put to the test recently when the Department of Health- Health Emergency Management Staff (DOH-HEMS) led the conduct of the first SPEED Nationwide Simulation Exercise from 17 to 19 July 2012. The 3-day simulation was participated in by 17 regions. The simulation was part of the activities for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Consciousness month which is being observed in July every year. ENHANCING THE SPEED SYSTEM The simulation primarily aimed to test the SPEED system as well as the information management know-how and capability of health emergency managers in the municipality/city, provincial, regional as well as the national level. Lessons from the simulation will be the bases for enhancing SPEED further to make it a better tool in monitoring and reporting health conditions after a disaster to minimize morbidities and avoid preventable deaths in times of emergencies and disasters. The Department of Health urged the local government units (LGUs) to make use of SPEED in reporting health-related data after a disaster. This will speed up reporting of disease outbreaks in real time and allow health officials to respond to emergency situations more adequately. The national simulation tested the readiness of its health workers and health emergency managers from 80 provinces, 1,500 municipalities, and 137 cities in the country. SPEED reports came in from areas as far north as Sabtang, Batanes to as far south as Sitangkai in Tawi-Tawi. Simulation Exercise Press Conference with WHO s Dr Soe Nyunt-U, DOH s Dr Eric Tayag and Dr Carmencita Banatin WHO turn over of Health Facility Code Books to DOH Assistant Secretary Dr Eric Tayag DOH presented SPEED Health Facility Code Books to donors AusAID Public Affairs Officer, Ms Jaclyn Damaso and USAID representative, Mr David Golla DOH-HEMS National Operations Center staff act as Data Managers for each region during the simulation exercise Daily Monitoring Board captures reports coming in from the regions 4
let SPEED do the reporting! I believe reporting via SMS is the way forward. The technology is widely available, affordable and easy to use especially in the Philippines where everybody has at least one cell phone and Filipinos are known for their love of texting, said Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, country representative of the World Health Organization during a press conference on the second day of the simulation. HEALTH FACILITY CODE BOOKS TURN-OVER The World Health Organization has also turned over complete volumes of SPEED Health Facility Code books to Assistant Secretary of Health, Dr Eric Tayag. The Code Books which contained an assigned code for each health facility, allows trained personnel to get quick access to some 11,395 health facilities including barangay health stations, government and private hospitals, and identified evacuation centers. Asec Tayag mentioned the use of SPEED during the leptospirosis outbreak in Cagayan de Oro, which was severely hit by Tropical Storm Sendong. Dr Soe Nyunt-U of the WHO, NDRRMC Executive Director Usec Benito Ramos, DOH Asec Eric Tayag and DOH-HEMS Director Dr Carmencita Banatin during the Orientation of SPEED to NDRRMC Technical Management Group. The orientation took place on the last day of the SIMEX and attended by agencies such as the PNP, AFP, DOST, DTI, ADB, MMDA, CHED, GSIS, PhilHealth, UNICEF, among others. SPEED consultant from WHO Headquarters in Geneva Dr Peter Mala and SPEED External Evaluator from the United States, Dr Bill Keene, discuss the mechanics of the SIMEX with the data managers. Dr Banatin gives a brief orientation to guests and partners from UNFPA, OCHA and USAID during the SPEED SIMEX Open House. Field visit at Region IVA with CHD Director Edgardo Gonzaga and Dr Noel Pasion. SIMEX in action in the Center for Health Development in Northern Mindanao. SPEED project officer, Dr Aura Corpuz accompanied Dr Peter Mala and Dr Bill Keene, WHO Geneva consultant and SPEED US-based external evaluator respectively, on their field visit to Region X. In the picture are RHEMS Coordinator Dr Dave Mendoza and the SPEED data managers from Cagayan de Oro City. SPEED reporter from Rizal `texting health data during the simulation A set of the Health Facility Code Book was also given to partners and donors like the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and USAID. It was considered as one of the worst outbreaks after the 2009 Leptospirosis outbreak during Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi, said Tayag, adding that the system allowed health authorities to institute measures to contain the disease from further spreading. SPEED is expected to help detect possible disease outbreaks in displaced populations during disasters. 5
The WHO Philippines - Emergency Humanitarian Action Team Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, WHO Representative in the Philippines Dr. Gerardo Medina, EHA Programme Officer Dr. Aura C. Corpuz, EHA SPEED Project Officer Julie Villadolid, Technical Officer for DOH-HEMS Dr. Christian Gomez, SPEED Training Coordinator Cora Acosta, WHO PHL Communications Officer Christine Ringor, SPEED Administrative Assistant Jeffrey Follero, SPEED IT Administrator and Data Encoder Ciela Demasuay, EHA Secretary We d like to hear from you. For your feedback, comments, and questions you may get in touch with the Emergency and Humanitarian Action Team (EHA) through: Address: G/F Building 3, Department of Health Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila Email: who.speed@gmail.com / who.phl@wpro.who.int Website: http://wpro.who.int/countries/phl/ Telephone numbers: +63 2 5289066 / +63 2 3387479 Fax: +63 2 3388605 The SPEED System is a project of the Department of Health in collaboration with the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) and with funding support from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) (Phase 3)