Dr. Exuperia Sabalberino Gives Back, Exemplifies Leadership in Action

Eastern Visayas, known for its resilience in the face of significant health inequities, is one of the poorest regions in the Philippines. Three of its six provinces rank among the top 20 poorest in the country. The region’s challenging geography, with numerous island municipalities and mountainous areas, poses logistical challenges for healthcare delivery. Additionally, peace and order issues further hinder access to health services.

Dr. Exuperia Sabalberino’s journey to leadership in public health mirrors her region and is a testament to her commitment and resilience. Born and raised in Eastern Samar, she witnessed the lack of reliable public healthcare firsthand. These experiences inspired her to give back to her community, leading her to a career in a district hospital in Eastern Samar and later training in pathology at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Manila. Her involvement with a public health NGO, working on projects such as blindness eradication and medical missions, ignited her passion for public health and set her on a leadership path.

Returning to Eastern Visayas in 1996, Dr. Sabalberino took on various roles at the Department of Health (DOH), handling programs like disease prevention and control, voluntary blood donation and local health systems development, among others. By 2020, she was promoted to  DOH-Eastern Visayas Regional Director, a role she embraced with a vision to improve health outcomes in the region.

Strategic Initiatives and Achievements

The Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, Republic Act No. 11223, aims to provide every Filipino with affordable health services. However, UHC implementation varies across regions due to diverse healthcare needs, resource capabilities, and differences in government leadership. In Eastern Visayas, the focus has been on addressing these unique challenges through strategic health financing and strengthening local health systems.

Dr. Sabalberino’s approach to implementing UHC involves fostering collaboration among local government units (LGUs), healthcare workers, and various stakeholders. She says, “”I realized early on that we need help in accelerating the implementation of UHC  in the region. We asked various stakeholders for help because we know our limitations.”

Health financing, a critical aspect of UHC implementation, is primarily facilitated through the Special Health Fund (SHF). The SHF consolidates resources at the provincial and city levels, dedicated to financing various health services. Efforts have been made to align policies and improve collaboration with entities like PhilHealth, the Department of Health (DOH), DILG and the Commission on Audit (COA), ensuring healthcare delivery’s sustainability, equity, and effectiveness.

Leadership development programs, supported by the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), have significantly contributed to deepening regional leaders’ accountability and ownership. These programs have also provided valuable training to local health leaders, enhancing their ability to address health challenges in their respective areas.

Members of the Regional UHC Coordinating Team (RUCT) completed training under the Bayang Malusog Regional Leadership Development Program (LDP). This program focuses on deepening accountability and ownership of regional leaders in UHC implementation. Training modules cover practicum experience, leadership acts, and lessons in implementing UHC and nutrition projects and programs.

The Strategic Dialogue on UHC Implementation and Health Financing Implications for Enhanced Health Service Delivery focused on the practical implementation of the UHC Law. Participants discussed their roles in addressing challenges, high-impact interventions, and the status of policy/COA guidelines on the SHF. Theory U and the Bridging Leadership Framework have been instrumental in processing and implementing these strategies.

Community-based initiatives, a cornerstone of UHC implementation, have been championed to address specific regional needs. For instance, in mountainous areas with protein deficiency, interventions included high-protein crop cultivation and free-range chicken farming, ensuring strategies fit the unique challenges of different communities.

Adaptive leadership and conflict management are essential aspects of Dr. Sabalberino’s strategy. Training sessions managing conflicts, team dynamics, and applying the adaptive leadership toolkit to mobilize people and resources helped leaders develop strategies to address health challenges effectively.

“I am so thankful, especially for the governance program for our health leaders. It’s really helping us a lot. It allowed our health leaders to appreciate and be more aware of the health challenges in their respective areas,” Dr. Sabalberino states.

Impact of UHC in Eastern Visayas

Under Dr. Sabalberino’s transformative leadership, UHC implementation in Eastern Visayas has brought significant changes. By upgrading health facilities and establishing specialty centers, the region has witnessed a remarkable increase in accessibility to health services. Health indicators have shown a positive trend, with reductions in maternal and child mortality rates and better outcomes in nutrition and disease prevention programs.

Enhanced health financing through the SHF will ensure a more equitable distribution of resources, providing financial protection to those most in need. More robust local health systems have emerged, with leadership development and strategic dialogues making these systems more responsive and capable of addressing community-specific health challenges.

Looking Forward

Dr. Exuperia Sabalberino’s efforts have improved health outcomes in one of the Philippines’ most challenging regions but also set a benchmark for other regions striving to implement UHC. Her vision is a dream and a roadmap for a healthier, more equitable future for all Filipinos.

When asked about the legacy she wants to leave in Eastern Visayas, she muses, “I reflected on this. I asked, Lord, why did you put me in this situation, what do you want from me? I thought, if I can help improve health outcomes in the region and reduce health inequities, I will be very happy with that. To give opportunities and provide more access to health services, that will be a very good legacy for Eastern Visayas.”