SHCs enhance health services – Go
SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, praised the local authorities of Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, led by Gov. Angging Dimaporo and Mayor Hanifa Ali, for the successful groundbreaking of its Super Health Center (SHC) in Barangay West Poblacion on Thursday, March 14.
In his message, Go emphasized that creating SHCs nationwide, especially in underprivileged regions, is a key step in enhancing public health services at the community level. He highlighted that these centers aim to bridge the gap between the government and the Filipino people.
“I am pushing for the establishment of Super Health Centers in the entire Philippines because I know how important is the government medical service to the people in the provinces, especially to those living in far-flung communities,” said Go in Filipino.
The Super Health Center is an improved version of the rural health unit. It offers health services, including database management, outpatient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: X-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine.
Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for more than 700 SHCs.
The Department of Health (DoH), led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, is the lead implementing agency that identifies the strategic areas where Super Health Centers will be constructed. In the province, seven SHCs were funded.
During the groundbreaking, Go’s Malasakit Team delivered grocery packs, shirts, basketballs and volleyballs to select barangay health workers.
In addition to setting up SHCs, the senator reiterated his push for the passage of two key legislative proposals to enhance the country’s readiness for public health crises.
Considering how the pandemic became an eyeopener for the government to strengthen its health care system, Go refiled the bills that seek to establish the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP) and the Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC is envisioned to be the lead agency for developing communicable disease control and prevention initiatives. It will primarily control the introduction and spread of infectious diseases in the country. Some of its primary functions will include policy and standards development, disease detection and surveillance, data collection and analytics, public health communications, and research and evidence synthesis.