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 Christopher “Bong” Go lauded the Department of Health (DOH) and the local government of Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte for the successful groundbreaking of the town’s Super Health Center on Thursday, April 25.
Present during the event were Vice Mayor Senen Angeles and city councilors.
In his video message, Go expressed his optimism that more disadvantaged Filipinos can access basic healthcare services through the Super Health Centers that will be strategically located, particularly in rural communities.
The senator was instrumental in pushing for the budget for the Dipolog City Super Health Center and hundreds more of such centers nationwide, including 11 in the province.
Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the DOH, led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for establishing more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide.
“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,” noted Go.
“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,” he underscored.
Super Health Centers offer health services, including database management, out-patient, birthing, 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 centers, and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.
Go then offered additional help to those in need of medical attention. He also encouraged them to visit the Malasakit Centers at the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center in the city and Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital in Dapitan City, where they can more conveniently access medical assistance from the government.
With over ten million poor and indigent Filipinos helped nationwide, according to the Department of Health, the Malasakit Centers program has successfully established 163 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.
“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 Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.
“Ipagpatuloy lang natin ang pagbibigay serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan lalo na po ang mga mahihirap. This is truly a community effort, and I am proud to be a part of it,” underscored Go who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to Filipinos in need.
