In the Philippines’ remote areas, a small and basic health facility such as this newly-built stucture in Mamasapano, Maguindanao can spell the difference between life and death. This building was inaugurated last Aug. 17, along with another rural health unit, 18 barangay health stations, 11 communal toilets, 11 deep wells with elevated water tanks, and various medical equipment worth P7.5 million. The projects were under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government’s Humanitarian and Development Assistance Program (HDAP). Department of Health- ARMM Assistant Secretary Julkarnain Abas said these health facilities are to decrease the mortality rate in far-flung areas.
