ILOILO Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. joined Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial and other officials in inaugurating infrastructure projects in Janiuay town on Tuesday, January 31.
First to be inaugurated was the P2.2 million barangay health center in Barangay Atimonan, a mountainous barangay in Janiuay that can be reached by foot 4 to 5 hours.
Funded by DOH under its Hospital Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP), the Atimonan Health Center hopes to bring the most needed health and social services closer to the people.
Defensor thanked Ubial for helping the province in its quest to improve the delivery of health services especially for the poor.
The province, through the Provincial Health Office, also turned over toilet bowls and construction materials for 100 households as part the government’s zero open defecation campaign.
On the other hand, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, under its Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services, turned over a classroom building complete with facilities inside the Atimonan Elementary School.
From Barangay Atimonan, Defensor and company proceeded to Federico Roman Tirador Memorial District Hospital in the town proper for the inauguration of its new two-storey building.
Also funded under the HFEP is the P35-million new hospital building houses the outpatient department, X-ray, laboratory and dental departments on its ground floor while the second floor will have 25 rooms.
Defensor said they have also lined up a P48-million water sewerage treatment plant for Federico Roman Tirador Sr. Memorial District Hospital in compliance with the requirement of the DOH, however, the province lacks the resources to fund it.
Ubial committed to help the Provincial Government promising to allocate P32 million for the project.
The health secretary also proceeded to the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan to conduct an ocular inspection of the ongoing rehabilitation of the hospital which is also funded under the HFEP.
Ubial assured under the present administration’s health agenda, more help will be coming to further improve health services in the country. (PR)