ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Aug 16 (PIA) – The employees of Basilan General Hospital are very grateful as Senator Christopher “Bong” Go brought good news to them during his visit here.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go arrived in Basilan on Saturday (August 14) and launched the Malasakit Center in the province. He also led the ribbon-cutting of the new building of Basilan General Hospital.

During the program, Senator Bong Go raffled off 15 bicycles to the employees of Basilan General Hospital. He also gave 10 shoes and 15 computer tablets for parent employees as support for the education of their children especially those enrolled in blended learning modality.

Sen. Go also announced that the 48 current patients and 297 rank and file employees of BGH will be receiving financial assistance from the DSWD.

In addition, Senator Go also provided vitamins and groceries to all patients and employees of the hospital. He also gave them face masks and face shields. He said that these will give them additional protection in the performance of their duties as frontliners.

In terms of support for health services, a cheque with an amount of three million pesos was turned-over to the Basilan General Hospital as initial funds for the Malasakit Center.

“Ang 3 milyon po na yan ay galling po yan sa Office of the President, replenishable po yan. I replenish po yan kada buwan kung mauubos,” Sen. Go said as he expressed hope that the Malasakit Center will help the BGH to extend more services and care to Basilenos especially those indigent groups who cannot afford to pay medical services.

Sen. Go also bared to work with the Congress to upgrade and convert BGH into a medical center. He also further vowed to appeal to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-IED) to send additional COVID-19 vaccines to the province.

"Kakausapin ko ang IATF na magpadala agad ng bakuna pati yong para sa testing ninyo para hindi na kailangan magtravel pa ng Zamboanga din, kasi ito rin ay DOH-run hospital kaya dapat meron din kayong kapasidad dito para makita na natin kung sino talaga yong apektado at ma-isolate po kaagad," he said.
 
The employees of the Basilan General Hospital expressed gratitude  for all the support to them and to their hospital as they continue to provide better health care services to the people.

“It is with overwhelming joy, that with unprecedented support and cooperation through professional guidance and recommendations from the DOH, we are all here today to witness this vibrant and historical inauguration of the two-storey building and the Malasakit Center. Together we celebrate our theme that this is most benefiting for this momentous event, together we transition into caring realm of new normal as Basilan General Hospital transcends towards a new beginning,” Dra. Sitti Nurussamsi Amilasan, Medical Center Chief stated.

Dra. Amilasan further expressed gratitude to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Senator Go for all their support to the BGH. 

“Kami ay lubos na nagpapasalamat kay President Duterte at Senator Bong Go sa initiative na ito sapagkat marami ang indigent na pasyenteng Pilipino ang matutulungan nito. Sana’y patuloy na pagbutihin ang programang ito at sana’y patuloy nilang suportahan,” Dr. Amilasan expressed during the interview with the Philippine Information Agency. (RVC/NDR/PIA-Basilan)