ABULUG, Cagayan (PIA) - -  The Department of Health (DOH) in the Cagayan Valley Region recently inaugurated the Northwestern Cagayan General Hospital (NWCGH) in Abulug, Cagayan.

DOH Assistant Regional Director Dr. Mar Wynn Bello said the hospital is now ready to attend to outpatients and perform minor surgical procedures. 

“It will temporarily serve as an infirmary until the full completion of the other facilities,” Bello said.

Bello said that when fully operational, the hospital will offer clinical services for inpatients, consulting specialists in medicine, pediatrics, OB-GYNE, and surgery emergencies.

The 100-bed hospital, located in barangay Pinili, will also have isolation facilities, surgical and maternity facilities, departmentalized clinical services, respiratory unit, an high-risk pregnancy unit, natal ICU ancillary services, tertiary clinical laboratory blood station, and a 2nd level X-ray with mobile unit pharmacy add-on service dialysis unit.

Bello also emphasized the significance of mutual support and providing accessible services to ensure every community has access to advanced, resilient, high-quality healthcare.

The director also said that the opening of NWCGH will help decongest patients at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) in Tuguegarao City, including the Far North Luzon General Hospital in Luna, Apayao.

NWCGH medical officer  Dr. Jay-Jay Roaquin said that at present, there are seven doctors at the hospital ready to attend  to patients from the municipalities of Lasam, Allacapan, Abulug, Pamplona, Aparri West, Ballesteros, Claveria, Sanchez Mira, and Santa Praxedes.

Once completed, NWCGH will transition into a tertiary hospital level 2.

The hospital was made possible through Republic Act 11718 which provided for the establishment and funding of the said hospital and was implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Second District Engineering Office.

The construction of the hospital building started on March 29, 2021, with a total released funding allocation of P422 million from the General Appropriations Act of 2021-Local Infrastructure Program (GAA 2021-LIP).  (OTB/MDCT/PIA Cagayan)