MUNICIPAL HEALTH OFFICER
FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
1. Attends to the administration of the rural health service.
a. Assesses community health status.
b. Plans and implements health programs and instructions in accordance with guidelines set by the Department of Health and under the supervision of the Provincial Health Officer.
c. Develops the capabilities of his staff on a continuous basis through formal teaching, staff meetings, regular participation in their activities, etc.
d. Supervises all aspects of the health work, keeping in mind that supervision should take the form of problem identification, problem solving, guidance, training, support, and encouragement.
e. Keeps liaison, through meetings and other possible avenues, with the private health sectors, other public agencies, municipal and barrio authorities, and members of the other sectors of the community.
f. Sees to it that supplies and equipment needed by the unit promptly requisitioned, well maintained, kept, and accounted for.
g. Ensures that all required records and reports are properly accomplished and submitted promptly.
h. Whenever so directed by the Provincial Health Officer, attends conferences of Municipal Health Officers or such other conferences at which his presence may be needed for the good of the service.
2. Provides epidemiological and environmental health services to the community.
a. Studies weekly incidence of notifiable diseases; conducts epidemiological investigations when indicated; and institutes proper control measures in association with his staff.
b. Cooperates with other health officers in the suppression of any epidemic.
c. Exercises general supervision over the hygienic and sanitary conditions of the municipality, including public and private premises therein. In this connection, he shall:
- enforce all sanitary laws and regulations applicable to his municipality and shall cause all violations of the same to be duly prosecuted.
- abate any nuisance endangering public health.
- remove the cause of any special diseases or mortality.
- enforce any internal quarantine regulations applicable to his municipality.
- draft and recommend to the municipal council of his municipality suitable ordinances or regulations for carrying into effects the powers conferred by law upon such body in respect to matters of sanitation.
- determine the cause of death of persons dying without medical attendance and issue the necessary death certificate.
- promote the registration of vital events.
3. Serves as the clinician of the unit.
a. Holds regular clinics for referred cases (morbid, MCH, Family Planning, nutritional) in the main health center and provides free medicine when indicated and available in the unit.
b. When called, attends personally to all cases of difficult labor and serious illness.
c. Refers cases needing further care to the nearest hospital. In the case of indigent patients, provides assistance in their transportation.
d. Conducts the required physical examination of government employess, applicants for permits/licences/tests and persons in custody, school children, and of others entitled to such services.
4. Acts as the medico-legal officer of the community.
a. Attends to medico-legal cases, but issues the corresponding certificate only to either the chief of police, fiscal or judge. In the case of autopsies, performs the same only upon request of any of the aforementioned officials.
5. Ensures the continuing education of the public in matters of health.
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