Evolution of Public Health Nursing in the Philippines

Date Event
Pre-Spanish Era  No records

Spanish Regime
1577-1898  Bro. Juan Clemente, a Franciscan Friar started public health
services through dispensary in Intramuros for the indigent
1577
 Dominican Father, Juan de Pergero start water sanitation in
San Juan Manila
1690  Dr. Francisco de Balmis introduced small pox vaccination
 First medicos titular were appointed by the Spanish
government course. The medicus titulares worked as
provincial health officers. A 2-year course consisting of
fundamental medical subjects was first offered in the
1805 University of santo Tomas. Graduates of this course known
as cirujanos ministrantes served as male nurses and
sanitation inspectors.

American Regime
1901-1940  The United States Philippine Commission, through Act 157,
1901 created the Board of Health of the Philippine Islands with a
Commissioner of Public Health as its chief executive officer.
The Board of Health eventually
evolved into what is now Department of Health
 The Asociacion Feminista Filipina founded La Gota de Leche
1905 the first center dedicated to the service of mothers and
children
 Fajardo Act of 1912 created Sanitary Divisions made up of
1912
one to four municipalities. Each Sanitary division had a
president who had to be a physician
1915  The Philippine General Hospital began to extend public
health nursing services in the home of the patients by
organizing a unit called Social and Home Care Service, with
two staff nurses.
1916-1918  Perlita Clark took charge of public health nursing work
 Public health nursing inaugurated its pioneer work in
1919 Tondo Manila when a visiting nurse Balbina Basa was
assigned to make a house to house visit, hold clinic and
dispensary work with special emphasis maternal and child
care
 176 puericulture nurses assigned in Manila. and provinces
since 1919. Puericulture centers are semi government
agencies partly financed by private funds and aided by the
government. Maternal and child care is offered.
1923
 90 Public Health Nurses assigned in different provinces
1928  First convention of nurses was held followed by annual
conventions until the advent of World War ll.
 1935  133 positions of public health nurses assigned in the
community with high infant mortality

Japanese Regime  Public Health Nursing services was interrupted

1942- 1945
1941  The effect of WW II on December 8, 1941
 Public Health Nurses in Manila was assigned to devastated
areas to attend to the sick and wounded civilians caused by
bombing, 12 emergency units were organized; one of them
was sent to Bataan to attend to the sick and wounded which
were left by the retreating forces of Gen. Douglas
MacArthur.
1942  Group of Public Health Nurses with Physicians and
administrators of Manila Health Department went to Capas
Tarlac to receive sick prisoners of war released by Japanese
army.

Era of the Republic  Increased the number of Public Health Nurses

of the Philippines
1946 to present
 Reorganization of government offices under E.O No. 49 s. of
1947
1947 with the transfer of the Bureau of Public Welfare to the
Office of the Pres., and the department was renamed
Department of Health
 R.A 1082 (Rural Health Unit Act) creation of a rural health
units in every municipality and for the employment of
1954
physicians to serve as municipal health officers, public
health nurses, midwives, and sanitation inspectors, in the
rural health units. It also provided a provincial health officer
1957 for each province and public health dentist for each
congressional district.
 R.A 1891(an Act Strengthening Health and Dental Services
in the Rural Areas and Providing Funds
1975  Formulation of the National Health Plan and the
Restructured Health care Delivery System
 Under E.O 851, the Health Education and Manpower
Development Services was created with the BFAD assumed
the function of FDA
1982  The Ministry of Health became Department of Health
 The EPI and the National drug Policy, the implementation
1986 of Generic Law of 1988 (R.A 6675) were subsequently given
1987 importance
 R.A. 7160, The Local Government Code of 1991was
implemented which resulted to devolution which
1991 transferred the power and authority from the national to
local government units. Materials, supplies, of health centers
have to be provided by the local government units.
  Full implementation of the R.A 7160 or Local Government
Code. Special projects were highlighted like NID (National
Immunization Day), National Micronutrients Campaign
1992
(Araw ng Sangkap Pinoy), Disater Management, Urban
Health and Nutrition Project, Traditional Medicine, Doctors
to the Barrio Program,” Let’s Do It!” became a national
battle cry
 The National League of Philippine Government Nurses was
organized, government nurses as members.
 Primary Health Care as a strategy to attain Health for All by
1993 the year 2000was in focus supported by the following
slogan, “23 in “93”, Health for More in “94”, five in “95”,
and Go 7 in “1977”
 Health Sector Reform Agenda of the Philippine was
launched
 D.O order 209 designated Nelia Hizon, Nurse V1 as the
nursing adviser to look matters affecting nurses
1999 nursing is referred to her.
 E.O 102 was signed by President Erap Estrada, redirecting
new functions and operations of the DOH, wherein most of
the nursing positions at the Central Office were transferred
or devolved to other offices and services.
 The DOH launched Fourmula
2005 One for health to ensure speed
precision, and effectiveness
and equity of health care
delivery.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Community Health Nurse

1. Programmer/Planner
2. Health Educator/Trainer/Counsellor
3. Community Organizer
4. Manager/Supervisor
5. Coordinator of Servicer
6. Provider of Nursing Care
7. Health Monitor
8. Role Model
9. Recorder/Reporter
10. Statistician
11. Researcher
12. Change agent
References:
Community Health Nursing Services in the Dept of Health (2000)
Community Health Nursing 9th Edition, National League of Government
Nurses, Inc.
Nursing Care of the Community, Zenaida U. Famorca