VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – In a move to improve public health facilities, the Department of Health (DOH) delivered a range of medical equipment to eight district hospitals in Ilocos Sur as part of its Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).
During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday, DOH-Region 1 Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco said the program is constantly being implemented in all public hospitals in the Ilocos Region to address each hospital’s specific needs.
She said, “Lahat ng request ay kino-consolidate namin at sina-submit namin sa [DOH] Central Office. Kung may pondong ilalaan doon, iyon ay pinapa-validate namin based on need, kung kinakailangan ba talaga ng hospital, at isa ring tinitingnan namin ay kung may health worker na specialist to handle that equipment.”
(We gather all the requests from the hospital and then submit them to the Central Office. After the funding is confirmed, we validate whether the requested equipment is necessary. We also consider if there is a specialist available who will be able to use the equipment effectively.)
A total of 276 pieces of medical equipment, including a food conveyor, stretcher bed, phototherapy machine, autoclaves of 20L and 50L, pharma/reagent refrigerator, mechanical ventilator, and a hospital bed with bedside table and accessories, were turned over to the Ilocos Sur Provincial Hospital-Gabriela Silang (ISPH-GS) in Vigan City and district hospitals in the municipalities of Cervantes, Magsingal, Narvacan, Salcedo, Sinait, Santa Lucia, and Tagudin on June 27.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Trina Tabboga-Talaga urged the chiefs of hospitals and/or health professionals present during the turnover ceremony at the Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center in this city to work hard to maximize the use of the provided medical equipment for the best of everyone.
Governor Jeremias Singson expressed his gratitude to DOH-Region 1 for the provision of medical equipment, as these will capacitate the province’s facilities and healthcare providers to render the necessary medical attention needed by the people.
He said, “The provincial government of Ilocos Sur has been investing in the health sector by equipping our public hospitals with equipment that will cater to a wide range of medical services. Also, the procurement process for a new MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine for the ISPH-GS is currently in progress. The existing machine will be repaired and then transported to a district hospital in need. Additionally, we will acquire a new mammography machine, biopsy device, and other requested equipment for our hospitals.”
He also urged the chiefs of hospitals to further their efforts to invest in the promotion of healthcare that will benefit the people and the total development of the province.
HFEP aims to improve public health facilities by constructing new, upgrading, and rehabilitating existing ones across the country, such as barangay health stations, rural health units, urban health centers, and local government unit hospitals.
The program assists in enabling government health facilities to provide affordable, quality care and specialized treatments. (AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)
