BONG GO BATS FOR MORE SHCS
SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, underscored his commitment to advancing health care accessibility at the grassroots level as he attended the turnover ceremony of the Super Health Center (SHC) in Kiamba, Sarangani on Wednesday, January 17.
“I will continue to help in establishing more Super Health Centers in the country,” Go said in Filipino during the event. “With the current Super Health Centers, we have seen how important these centers are in the communities, especially those in the rural areas.”
“It is a significant step towards enhanced health care services. That is the goal of the Super Health Centers, to bring the medical service of the government to the people,” he added.
Through the collective initiative of Go, the Department of Health (DoH) led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, local government units, and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for 307 SHCs in 2022 and 322 in 2023.
There will also be an addition of 132 Super Health Centers funded in 2024. DoH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where the SHCs will be constructed.
In Sarangani, funds have also been allocated for the construction of other SHCs in at least six strategic locations.
The Super Health Center is an enhanced version of a rural health unit, offering essential health services such as database management, outpatient care, birthing facilities, isolation areas, diagnostic services (including laboratory tests, X-rays, and ultrasounds), pharmacy services, and ambulatory surgical units.
Additionally, these centers provide services such as eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine, enabling remote patient diagnosis and treatment.
Last July, Go personally inspected one center in Malungon, Sarangani.
Go also acknowledged Vice Gov. Elmer de Peralta, Mayor George Falgui, Vice Mayor Marie Jess Ancheta and Board Member Irish Arnado in his speech for their efforts in uplifting their community.
Members of the Sangguniang Bayan and various barangay captains were in attendance as well. Go’s Malasakit Team also provided food packs and other forms of aid to barangay health workers and some of the residents present.
Go emphasized the presence of a Malasakit Center at the Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital in nearby General Santos City to further improve health care accessibility.