BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO – The services of rural health units (RHUs) in nine municipalities are expected to improve with the turnover yesterday of over $342,878 or more than P15-million worth of Basic Emergency Maternal Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEMONC) medical equipment.
The equipment came from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
Alimodian’s Mayor Geefre Alonsabe and Bingawan’s Mayor Matt Palabrica thanked KOICA and the provincial government.
Palabrica said the aid came in time because their RHU’s apparatus were already old.
He said that with the new equipment, the services in the RHU’s laboratory and birthing clinic will significantly improve.
Alonsabe, meanwhile, described the project as a dream-come-true of the people of Alimodian.
The turnover was headed by KOICA’s Senior Deputy Residence Representative Youngram Kim in a program held at the provincial capitol lobby.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. said the medical equipment were part of KOICA’s P300-million grant to improve the delivery of basic health services in remote areas under the Iloilo Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) Health System Strengthening Project.
These areas are Alimodian, Leon, San Miguel, Calinog, Bingawan, Balasan, Batad, Estancia and Carles.
The equipment included:
- 75 NSD kits
- 14 adult ambubags
- 12 pediatric ambubags with mask
- six suction machines
- 18 oxygen tanks
- 18 regulators/gauges
- 18 spare oxygen gauges
- 75 kelly pads
- 14 cervical inspection sets
- nine NSV sets
- five IUD sets
- 45 minor surgical sets
- three microscopes
- 31 nebulizers
- 18 pedia stethoscopes
- 68 fetal dopplers
- 67 baby weighing scales
- 64 non-mercury pedia
- 117 non-mercury body thermometers
- 27 delivery table with stirrups
- 51 bassinets
- nine revolving stools
- 47 droplights
- 66 emergency lights
- 38 recovery beds with side railings, and
- 39 IV stands./PN
