Continuing his advocacy to improve the country’s health sector and establish more health facilities that would significantly benefit Filipinos, especially in the countryside, Senator Bong Go lauded the Department of Health and the local government of Labason, Zamboanga del Norte for the successful groundbreaking of the town’s Super Health Center recently.
In his video message, Go expressed his optimism that more disadvantaged Filipinos will be able to access basic healthcare services through the Super Health Centers that will be strategically located particularly in rural communities.
The legislator was instrumental in pushing for the budget for the Labason Super Health Center and hundreds more of such centers nationwide.
Through his initiative and with the support of his fellow lawmakers, some 307 SHCs were funded in 2022.
The senator likewise committed his continued support for the establishment of more Super Health Centers in the country as he has likewise successfully pushed for additional funds for 322 more centers in the 2023 health budget.
“Sa pag-iikot ko sa bansa, napansin ko na kakaunti lang talaga ang ating health facilities, lalo na sa maliliit na lugar. Minsan po yung iba ay nanganganak na lang sa tricycle sa layo ng byahe. Huwag sana natin hayaan na mangyari pa yon. Kaya talagang isinusulong ko ang pagkakaroon ng Super Health Centers. Pinili at inilagay ito ng DOH sa strategic areas. Pagkatapos nito, it will be managed and it will be turned over na sa local government unit,” he noted.
“Nananawagan po ako na ipagpatuloy lang natin ang pagbibigay ng mas maayos na healthcare access sa ating mga kababayan, lalung-lalo na po sa mahihirap.”
“Kaya naman bilang inyong Senate Committee Chair ng Health, nananawagan po ako na ipagpatuloy lang natin ang pagbibigay ng mas maayos na healthcare access sa ating mga kababayan, lalung-lalo na po sa mahihirap. Yung walang matakbuhan, yung mga helpless at hopeless, sila ang dapat unahin,” Go stressed.
Super Health Centers offer health services including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.
Apart from Labason, Super Health Centers will also be established in the cities of Dapitan and Dipolog; in the towns of Kalawit, Sindangan, and Sirawai; and in two more unspecified locations in the province.
He then offered additional help to those in need of medical attention.
Go also encouraged them to visit the Malasakit Centers at the Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital in Dapitan City and Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center in Dipolog City where they can more conveniently access medical assistance from the government.
With over seven million poor and indigent Filipinos helped nationwide according to the Department of Health, the Malasakit Centers program has successfully established 156 centers, bringing together relevant agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, to help reduce a patient’s hospital expenses to the lowest possible amount.
“Hindi pumipili ang Malasakit Center ng tutulungan.”
“Natutuwa ako na mayroon na tayong 156 na Malasakit Centers sa buong bansa. Hindi pumipili ang Malasakit Center ng tutulungan. Pera naman ito ng taumbayan na binabalik lang sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng maayos at maaasahang serbisyo,” he said.
“Kaya sa mga poor at indigent patients diyan, puntahan niyo na lang ang Malasakit Center dahil para talaga sa inyo ito,” reassured Go, who is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.
