ATOK, Benguet (PIA) -- Access to healthcare system will be made easier with the recent inauguration of the healthcare facility in Camp 30, Barangay Caliking in Atok, the first Super Health Center in the province of Benguet.
The said Super Health Center was inaugurated on May 10, 2023 with Department of Health-Cordillera Regional Director Dr. Rio Magpantay, Governor Melchor Diclas, Atok Mayor Franklin Smith, Dr. Mercy Calpito of the Provincial DOH Office, Dr. Meliarazon Dulay of the Provincial Health Office, and other health and local officials.
Diclas said the health center "will serve as a primary care facility" that will cater not only to the constituents of Atok ,but also to the residents of nearby municipalities.
In a local radio interview, Smith said the health center will provide birthing services and imaging services such as x-ray and ultrasound. It will also have a laboratory, dental clinic, pharmacy, among others.
"Napintas daytoy, it caters to our stakeholders and access kadagitoy diagnostic facility," Smith said.
The construction of the two-storey facility started in the last quarter of 2021 and is already 80 percent completed. The DOH provided P6.5 million funding with P3 million counterpart from Atok LGU.
Smith said that the facility is expected to be fully completed this year with the P2 million allocation from the provincial government and an additional LGU counterpart.
Though not 100% complete, the facility can already be used for health services.
The DOH intends to build a facility in each town nationwide to decongest regional and provincial hospitals. In support to the Philippine Health Agenda “Boosting Universal Health Care”, the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) provides funding to the local government units for the improvement of public health facilities by constructing new and for upgrading and rehabilitating existing public health facilities including barangay health stations, rural health units, and government hospitals. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR with reports from PIO Benguet)
