Officials from the Department of Health (DOH) and the local government unit of Matag-ob led the groundbreaking ceremony of the P12 million Super Health Center project, funded under the DOH Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP), and part of the government’s effort to upgrade public health services in this fourth-class municipality. (Photo Courtesy of Wil Amazona)
TACLOBAN CITY (PIA) — The Department of Health in Eastern Visayas recently broke ground for the construction of the P12-million Super Health Center in Matag-ob town in Leyte, in line with the vision of accessible primary health care in the countryside.
Officials from the Department of Health (DOH) and the local government unit of Matag-ob led the groundbreaking ceremony, signalling the start of construction of the Super Health Center, funded under the DOH Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP), and part of the government’s effort to upgrade public health services in this fourth-class municipality.
Dr. Antonio Ida, Leyte Provincial Health Officer said the challenge is now thrown to the LGU to sustain the facility’s operations once it opens to the public.
“We are asking the LGU of Matag-ob to provide the Super Health Center with funds so it can be sustained once it starts operations,” Dr. Ida said.
The provincial health officer added that the Super Health Center will be providing a wide range of medical services, including general consultations, maternal and child health services, diagnostic services, and minor surgical procedures.
Meanwhile, with the facility’s accessibility, people from Matag-ob’s 21 villages who will be seeking medical care can significantly reduce their travel time and expenses, thanks to this facility’s accessibility as it will be erected at the city’s town center.
Under the HFEP, Super Health Centers are being actively established to enhance healthcare accessibility and services particularly in underserved and rural areas. These centers aim to provide comprehensive medical care, especially in underserved areas.
A Super Health Center functions as a semi-hospital, significantly larger than a Rural Health Unit (RHU). It is equipped with various facilities such as a clinical laboratory, X-ray room, surgical room, birthing facility, electrocardiogram testing, ultrasound units, and others.
In Leyte province, there are 20 Super Health Center projects, nine of these are already completed which include the facilities in Alangalang, Albuera, Bato, Dulag, Inopacan, Kananga, San Isidro, Tanauan, and Baybay City. The rest are still in various stages of construction.
All these developments underscore the DOH’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare infrastructure in the Philippines, ensuring that quality medical services are more accessible to communities nationwide.
These centers will serve as an intermediate facility between barangay health stations and hospitals, reducing the need for patients to travel to distant hospitals for basic medical needs. Matag-ob town, located in Leyte’s fourth district, is about 38 kilometers away from where the bigger hospitals are located.
The Super Health Centers are a crucial component of the country’s healthcare system, ensuring that even those in far-flung areas receive adequate medical care.
By bridging the gap between community health centers and hospitals, these facilities will help create a stronger and more inclusive healthcare network across the country. (ACR/PIA Leyte)
