DOH Caraga enhances communication ability of local health communicators
By PIA Caraga
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The city and provincial health communicators in Caraga are now better equipped to translate technical health information into clear, engaging, and actionable messages that can help individuals, families, and communities make informed decisions about their health.
This was the key benefit of the three-day communication skills enhancement activity conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga on September 1–3 in Butuan City, which strengthened the competencies of health education and promotion officers (HEPOs) in health news writing, feature writing, mobile photography, videography, content development, and digital editing.
With these enhanced skills, participants are expected to produce more audience-centered information materials and effectively communicate government health programs, services, disease prevention measures, and other public health advisories through platforms accessible to their respective communities.
The activity also strengthens the role of local HEPOs as vital links between health institutions and the people, enabling them to explain complex health information in simpler, more understandable terms and help communities identify the appropriate health services and actions they need.
Shiena Angelie Q. Niones, Nurse II and HEPO designate of the Butuan City Health Office (CDOHO), said the training provided her with new learnings and practical communication skills that she can apply in developing and presenting health information to the public.
She emphasized the value of learning new approaches to make health messages more understandable, engaging, and responsive to the community’s needs.
For Necson Gamotin, head of the Communications Management Unit of DOH Caraga , the activity is advantageous because it strengthens the capacity of local health personnel who are at the forefront of communicating government health programs to the communities.
He noted that better-equipped HEPOs can help amplify health programs, explain available services, and ensure that important health messages reach their intended audiences through appropriate and engaging communication platforms.
The participants also underwent practical exercises where they applied their learning in writing health stories, developing audience-focused content, capturing relevant photographs and videos, and producing digital materials using commonly accessible editing tools.
The capability-building initiative supports the national government’s continuing efforts to strengthen health promotion, disease prevention, and health literacy as integral components of Universal Health Care (UHC). The DOH’s National Objectives for Health 2023–2028 specifically identifies the enhancement of health literacy and the promotion of healthy behaviors as key strategies in preventing disease and improving population health.
It likewise complements the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s people-centered approach to public service by strengthening the capacity of government personnel to deliver information and services that are responsive to the needs of Filipinos.
Under the UHC framework, an informed and empowered public is essential to achieving better health outcomes. Effective communication enables people to understand health risks, adopt healthier behaviors, access available services, and participate more actively in protecting their own health and that of their communities.
For DOH Caraga, investing in the communication competencies of local health personnel goes beyond improving writing and multimedia skills. It helps build a stronger health promotion workforce capable of turning evidence-based health information into messages that people can understand, trust, and act upon.
Personnel from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga served as subject-matter experts of the activity. Information Officer Nora C. Lanuza-Molde, PhD, discussed news writing for health, while Assistant Regional Head Renelle L. Escuadro facilitated the session on feature writing. Multimedia Specialist John Charles B. Malazarte handled mobile photography, content development, and videography, while Media Production Assistant Edrian M. Iligan facilitated the use of CapCut and Canva for video and photo editing.
Through strengthened local health communication, DOH Caraga seeks to ensure that essential health information does not remain within health offices but reaches households and communities in forms that are timely, accurate, understandable, and useful, contributing to a more health-literate and empowered population and advancing the country’s Universal Health Care goals. (NCLM, PIA Caraga)