DAGUPAN CITY -- Pregnant women in this city may now avail of free pre-natal check-up and delivery at the diagnostic clinic and lying-in center, which was formally opened on Thursday.
Mayor Belen Fernandez, in an interview Friday, said the facility, worth more than PHP20 million, was funded by both the city government and the Department of Health (DOH).
“Share natin is the maintenance, some of the equipment. Sa building naman, may share tayo at ang DOH (Our share is the maintenance, some of the equipment, while for the building we shared the expenses with the DOH),” Fernandez said.
The diagnostic clinic features state-of-the-art X-ray machines, ECG (electrocardiogram), and CT (computed tomography) scan while the lying-in clinic offers birthing beds and wards for birthing moms to recover.
The lying-in clinic will serve pregnant mothers on a 24-hour basis.
The CT scan machine was given to the clinic by the Villaflor Hospital, a private hospital in Dagupan.
The diagnostic clinic would also cater to the needs of Dagupeños, especially the indigent, the city government employees, as they would no longer have to cash out for an examination.
Residents could avail of services using the equipment for free, but they should first register at the City Health Office.
“We are targeting an initial 20,000 residents in Dagupan, but they need to register in order to get a green card ID.
This will entitle its owner to avail of the free services offered,” Fernandez added.
Meanwhile, a newborn hearing screening equipment is also set to be delivered to the clinic soon.
The equipment, worth USD35,000, will be donated by the Rotary Club of Dagupan.
“The equipment is very vital so that we can immediately detect if the newborn infant has hearing impairment.
Through the equipment, we could identify and treat it right away,” city health officer Dr. Ophelia Rivera, said in an interview. (PNA)