SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go‘s Malasakit Team attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Super Health Center in Barangay Poblacion in Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur, on Tuesday, May 28.
In a message, he emphasized the critical importance of investing in local health infrastructure to ensure quality healthcare services are accessible to all Filipinos.
Senator Go highlighted that such investments are vital for improving public health and addressing the community’s healthcare needs. “Building robust health infrastructure is crucial for providing accessible and quality healthcare to our citizens,” he stated. “The Super Health Center will play a significant role in achieving this goal.”
The new facility is part of the senator’s ongoing efforts to enhance the country’s healthcare system. As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go reiterated his commitment to supporting initiatives that improve healthcare services, particularly for underserved areas.
“The establishment of the Super Health Center is a step towards ensuring that medical services are within reach for everyone, especially those in remote and rural areas,” Senator Go added.
“Our goal is to ensure that no Filipino is left behind when receiving proper healthcare,” he added.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by local officials, including Mayor Manuel Saladaga, Vice Mayor Lester Espina, and town councilors, among others, and barangay health workers, who expressed their support for the project and acknowledged the senator’s continuous efforts in advancing healthcare infrastructure in the community.
“Magkakaroon po tayo ng mahigit 700 na Super Health Centers sa buong Pilipinas, kasama na ang siyam dito sa probinsiya ng Zamboanga del Sur. Ang Super Health Center po is a medium type of a polyclinic na kung saan ay pwede po diyan ang panganganak, dental, laboratory, x-ray. At kung gusto ni mayor, palakihin n’ya pwede n’yang palagyan ng dialysis machine,” Go explained.
“Ito pong Super Health Center isa po ito sa pamamaraan para ilapit natin ang serbisyo medikal sa atin mga kababayan at madi-decongest ang mga ospital dahil hindi na kailangan na pumunta ng ospital, pwede na po diyan ‘yung mga primary care,” he continued.
Super Health Centers shall offer basic medical services under one roof, such as database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services in Super Health Centers are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine.
Moreover, the Go’s Malasakit Team provided grocery packs, shirts, vitamins, basketballs, and volleyballs to the attending barangay health workers.
The senator also emphasized additional health initiatives designed to strengthen the nation’s healthcare system. A key program is the Malasakit Centers, which aims to offer convenient medical assistance to indigent patients. These centers function as one-stop shops, simplifying obtaining aid from various agencies. The goal is to minimize a patient’s hospital bill by covering various services and expenses.
Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, was principally authored and sponsored by Senator Go. Currently, there are 165 centers nationwide, including the one at Margosatubig Regional Hospital and Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center in Pagadian City. According to the DOH, these centers have assisted around ten million indigent Filipinos.
“Ako naman ay patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya dahil bisyo ko na ang magserbisyo at yan po ang pinangako ko sa inyo na pagserbisyuhan kayo mga kababayan ko,” Mr. Malasakit concluded.
