SUPER HEALTH CENTER. Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (fifth from left) leads the capsule-laying and groundbreaking ceremony for the super health center in Barangay San Juan in Barotac Viejo on Wednesday (June 7, 2023). The super health center is a medium-type poly-clinic, bigger than a rural health unit and smaller when compared to a hospital, Go said in an interview. (PNA photo by PGLena)
ILOILO CITY – The super health center (SHC) that will soon rise in Barangay San Juan in the municipality of Barotac Viejo in Iloilo province will bring services closer to coastal barangays, said Mayor Nielo Tupas on Wednesday.
“The super health center will serve as an extension of the municipal health center offering services such as consultation, vaccination, and even as birthing center,” he said in an interview during the groundbreaking ceremony for the PHP10 million project.
The ceremony was graced by Senate Committee on Health chairperson, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Iloilo 5th district Representative Raul Tupas, Board Member Binky April Tupas, Iloilo Provincial Health Officer Dr. Maria Socorro Quiñon, and other local officials of the municipality.
Tupas said the project that comes with a PHP2 million fund for the acquisition of equipment is a state-of-the-art health facility, so they will also try to complement it with better services.
“This area is prone to accidents so it’s a big thing. It (SHC) will cater to all but since this is near coastal barangays, it would be an advantage for them,” the mayor added.
Among the coastal barangays expected to benefit are San Fernando, Santiago, Puerto Prinsesa, San Francisco, San Roque and San Juan.
Senator Go, in an interview, said the super health center is a medium-type polyclinic, bigger than a rural health unit and smaller when compared to a hospital.
He added that the project will be turned over to the local government and it’s up to them if they want it expanded like putting in additional equipment such as a dialysis machine.
Quiñon, in an interview, expressed her gratitude to the senator for the project because it will pave the way for everyone to have access to health services.
“Everybody has to be on board and I have high respect for those politicians that make health a priority program,” she said.
She added that the provincial government through the provincial health office will provide equipment as long as the health center performs well, particularly with an ultrasound when it becomes a primary care facility.
The provincial health office, according to Quiñon, also provides drugs and medicines aside from those given by the Department of Health and deploys staff to local government units for technical assistance. (PNA)
