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History of Community Health Nursing in The Philippines
History of Community Health Nursing in The Philippines
1901
Act # 157 (Board of Health of the Philippines); Act # 309 (Provincial and Municipal Boards of Health)
were created.
1905
Board of Health was abolished; functions were transferred to the Bureau of Health.
1912
Act # 2156 or Fajardo Act created the Sanitary Divisions, the forerunners of present MHOs; male
nurses performs the functions of doctors
1919
Act # 2808 (Nurses Law was created) – Carmen del Rosario, 1st Filipino Nurse supervisor under
Bureau of Health
Oct. 22, 1922
Filipino Nurses Organization (Philippine Nurses’ Organization) was organized.
1923
Zamboanga General Hospital School of Nursing & Baguio General Hospital were established; other
government schools of nursing were organized several years after.
1928
1st Nursing convention was held
1940
Manila Health Department was created.
1941
Dr. Mariano Icasiano became the first city health officer; Office of Nursing was created through the
effort of Vicenta Ponce (chief nurse) and Rosario Ordiz (assistant chief nurse)
Dec. 8, 1941
Victims of World War II were treated by the nurses of Manila.
July 1942
Nursing Office was created; Dr. Eusebio Aguilar helped in the release of 31 Filipino nurses in Bilibid
Prison as prisoners of war by the Japanese.
Feb. 1946
Number of nurses decreased from 556 – 308.
1948
First training center of the Bureau of Health was organized by the Pasay City Health Department.
Trinidad Gomez, Marcela Gabatin, Costancia Tuazon, Ms. Bugarin, Ms. Ramos, and Zenaida Nisce
composed the training staff.
1950
Rural Health Demonstration and Training Center was created.
1953
The first 81 rural health units were organized.
1957
RA 1891 amended some sections of RA 1082 and created the eight categories of rural health unit
causing an increase in the demand for the community health personnel.
1958-1965
Division of Nursing was abolished (RA 977) and Reorganization Act (EO 288)
1961
Annie Sand organized the National League of Nurses of DOH.
1967
Zenaida Nisce became the nursing program supervisor and consultant on the six special diseases
(TB, leprosy, V.D., cancer, filariasis, and mental health illness).
1975
Scope of responsibility of nurses and midwives became wider due to restructuring of the health care
delivery system.
1976-1986
The need for Rural Health Practice Program was implemented.
1990- 1992
Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160)
1993-1998
Office of Nursing did not materialize in spite of persistent recommendation of the officers, board
members, and advisers of the National League of Nurses Inc.
Jan. 1999
Nelia Hizon was positioned as the nursing adviser at the Office of Public Health Services through
Department Order # 29.
May 24, 1999
EO # 102, which redirects the functions and operations of DOH, was signed by former President
Joseph Estrada.