ILOILO CITY – Mayor Jerry P. Treñas’ “level up” campaign promise three years ago are now showing results. Making health an essential aspect to creating a more resilient and sustainable Iloilo, the city government opened health facilities and improved the services in various health centers.
Public health is part of the Treñas administration’s inclusive development and good governance roadmap called WHEELS – Welfare, Health, and Sanitation, Education, Environmental Management, Livelihood, Sustainability.
One of the significant milestones achieved is the establishment of the Uswag Dialysis Center 1 in Barangay East Baluarte, Molo district. It provides free treatment to indigent clients battling chronic kidney disease and costly clinic or hospital fees.
The facility was inaugurated in December 2021.
“Sigehon ta ‘ni ang mga free dialysis centers ta. Kadamo sang mga pigado nga Ilonggo nga nagakinahanglan sang dialysis pero kadaku sang gastuson,” said Treñas.
USWAG DIALYSIS CENTER 1 IN BARANGAY EAST BALUARTE, MOLO, ILOILO CITY
The city government hired doctors and nurses for the center, which can cater to six patients in a day at four hours each.
Aside from the one in Molo, a bigger dialysis center will be established in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro district. It will have 14 stations and can accommodate 28 patients in a day.
The target opening is the third quarter of this year.
“We will try to construct more dialysis center para mas damu pa gid ang maserbehan ta…sigehon ta ni kay ang aton nga syudad dapat makabulig sa aton pigado nga mga pumoluyo,” the city mayor added.
While the facility is exclusive for city residents for now, Treñas vowed to open it to non-residents if there are already more dialysis centers here.
HEALTH COMPLEX
Aside from dialysis centers, a health complex will rise complete with a hospital; quarantine, isolation and dormitory facilities; and molecular laboratory in Barangay San Pedro, Molo.
Iloilo City will soon have its own city government-run hospital. It will be constructed in the area overlooking the Iloilo River esplanade.
Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) gave the city government the go-signal to build and operate its own hospital to decongest private hospitals here.
The 104-bed Level 2 hospital will have an intensive care unit (ICU) and specialized doctors meeting DOH standards.
Treñas said the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has underscored the need for better medical facilities.
The soon-to-be health complex is currently hosting the temporarily Uswag Molecular Laboratory. The city opened the DOH-accredited facility at the height of the pandemic because of the urgent need for faster releasing of RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test results to effectively and efficiently managed confirmed COVID-9 cases.
The city government hired 34 medical technologists to man the facility. It can also be calibrated later on to conduct tests on dengue and human immunodeficiency virus.
MODULAR HOSPITALS
Another health facility which the city government established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is the 66-bed modular hospital in Barangay So-oc, Arevalo district.
The city government partnered with The Medical City (TMC)-Iloilo in the operation of this facility. Its operation is vital to lower the healthcare utilization rate (HCUR) of the city and concomitantly the city’s pandemic alert level.
The facility can cater to mild and moderate cases of COVID-19.
Aside from this, an additional 32-bed isolation facility will be built adjacent to the existing quarantine facility, also in Barangay So-oc. The quarantine and isolation facilities will form-part of the proposed city hospital in collaboration with the DOH.
DISTRICT HEALTH CENTERS
The city government has also leveled up its services in every district health centers. These include the Sto. Rosario Health Center, Jaro 2 Health Center, Arevalo Health Center, Jaro 1 Health Center, La Paz Health Center, Mandurriao Health Center, Molo Health Center, Tanza Health Center, and Lapuz Health Center.
STO. ROSARIO HEALTH CENTER TANZA HEALTH CENTER
MOLO HEALTH CENTER
STO. ROSARIO HEALTH CENTER TANZA HEALTH CENTER
The city government has deployed health workers such as nurses and doctors to these district centers.
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed the Iloilo City Government to double its efforts in fighting the unseen enemy without overlooking the other health issues and concerns. These are all part of the effort to bring the health services to the next level./PN
