DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – The first Super Health Center will soon rise in the province of Pangasinan to strengthen the delivery of public health care services, especially in far-flung areas and to ensure that the most needy have access to medical services that they need.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and Department of Health (DOH) Ilocos Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco led on Thursday the groundbreaking ceremony of the health facility together with local government officials of the province.
The super health facility will be constructed in Barangay Esmeralda, with a population of around 33,000, in the town of Balungao.
Senator Go, who was the guest of honor, stated that the center will provide all the basic health needs including specialized health services at the local level.
“Ang health facility pong ito ay mayroon ng out-patient department, laboratory, x-ray, ultrasound at iba pang mga serbisyong medikal upang hindi na mahirapan ang mga pasyente na pumunta pa sa pinakamalapit na ospital at gumastos pa ng pamasahe,” Go said.
He assured, “Dito pa lang ay kumpleto na ang kakailanganin ninyong medical services gaya ng birthing services, diagnostic, pharmacy at emergency services.”
“Mas malaki ito at mas maraming serbisyong maibibigay kaysa sa isang rural health center at mas maliit naman ito sa isang ospital,” Go added.
The establishment of the center was made possible through the efforts of the local government of Balungao.
The first phase of the Super Health Center will be funded by the DOH’s Health Facility Enhancement Program at P6.5 million.
“The implementation and construction of Super Health Centers will provide a higher standard of care than a regular rural health center and can provide essential health services to the people in the community. Makakatulong din ito sa ating mga secondary and tertiary hospitals dahil mababawasan ang kanilang out-patient services at primary emergency services dahil ito na ang magbibigay ng mga pangunahing serbisyong medikal para sa mga pasyente sa mga barangay at katabing lugar nito,” Director Sydiongco explained.
“At ang center na ito ay magpapatunay na sa lokal na level pa lang ay kaya ng ibigay ang mga serbisyong medikal na kailangan ng isang pasyente,” she added.
A total of 16 Super Health Centers will be established in selected municipalities of Ilocos region.
“The objective of the centers is to enable local health care facilities of local government units to provide basic health care services and accommodate patients needing surgery and specialized health care services which will lay the foundation of our goal and mandate, that is ‘Universal Health Care for all Filipinos’,” Sydiongco concluded.
After the groundbreaking of the town’s Super Health Center, Senator Go also attended the ribbon-cutting of a farm-to-market road in Barangay San Miguel, and distributed aid to disadvantaged Pangasinenses who have been adversely affected by the ongoing global health crisis.
In a resolution adopted by the Sangguniang Bayan on September 5, Go was also proclaimed as an adopted son of Balungao in recognition of his immeasurable support and assistance for the municipality.
Go was also declared as an adopted son of the Pangasinan in 2018.
Apart from the Super Health Center in Balungao, he likewise pushed for the funding of the construction of eight more Super Health Centers in the province, including in Alaminos City and in the towns of Basista, Manaoag, Mapandan, Tayug, Porrozubio, Asingan and Umingan. (JCR/AMB/PIA Pangasinan)
