DOH donates ultrasound machines to Mimaropa LGUs, health offices

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – The Department of Health (DOH) in the Mimaropa (Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) region recently donated 24 portable ultrasound devices and tablets to local government units, municipal health offices and non-government organizations as part of its mandate to provide equitable and accessible quality healthcare for all.

“The portable ultrasound device, as a basic medical equipment, will provide local health facilities the means to improve the delivery of primary care in their respective areas, especially those under the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) of the region,” DOH-Mimaropa Regional Director Dr. Eduardo C. Janairo said during the turn-over ceremony held in Quezon City.

“The selected health facilities that were given the device are primary health care providers. This is only the first batch, we will continue to assess local health units and continue to give proper training for health workers on the use of these devices to enable them to readily extend their services to patients,” he added.

Among the recipients of the equipment were the local governments of Lubang, Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Sta. Cruz, Magsaysay in Occidental Mindoro; Baco, Gloria, Naujan, Victoria and Bulalacao in Oriental Mindoro; San Jose, Concepcion, Romblon, San Fernando, Banton and Corcuera in Romblon; Sta. Cruz and Buenavista in Marinduque; Agutaya in Palawan; the Ultrasound Society of the Philippines, Philippine Obstetric and Gynecological Society and the Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives.

The portable ultrasound machine is a wireless scanner that is compatible with iOS and android devices.

It is accompanied by a tablet that will serve as a monitor and the user can easily download the free application from the internet.

According to Dr. Janairo, the pair of portable ultrasound device and android tablet costs P248,500.

“The ultrasound device is an important tool in a primary health care facility for it can help monitor normal fetal development and screen for any potential problems. With the use of this device, we can lessen maternal and infant deaths because we can monitor the fetus’ growth, check for congenital abnormalities or blood flow problem, diagnose problems with the ovaries or uterus such as tumors and also look for any abnormal growth in the fetus,” Janairo explained.

The donation of portable ultrasound devices is part of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque’s Formula 1 Plus (F1+) program to ensure that health care is more accessible to the poor and vulnerable population by ensuring the availability of basic medical equipment.