BRINGING HEALTH SERVICES DOWN TO COMMUNITIES: BONG GO LAUDS SUPER HEALTH CENTER TURNOVER IN TIAONG, QUEZON

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and an adopted son of CALABARZON, lauded the turnover ceremony of the Tiaong Super Health Center on Friday, July 19. This marks a significant step in Go’s advocacy to bring essential medical services closer to Filipinos, particularly in underserved areas.

“Super Health Centers are vital, especially in areas where medical services are scarce or existing health centers are too far. Isinulong natin ito para ilapit ang pangunahing serbisyong pangkalusugan sa ating mga mamamayan,” he expressed.

The senator highlighted how these centers can bridge the gap in healthcare accessibility, ensuring that even the most remote communities receive the care they need.

Senator Go extended his gratitude to the Department of Health (DOH), the local government, and fellow lawmakers including Congressman David “Jay Jay” Suarez, for their collective efforts in enhancing the health sector and ensuring the community’s health and well-being.

The said health facility should offer a wide range of services, including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and 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.

“Alam ko po na isa sa mga hamon ng ating mga residente ay ang pagkakaroon ng access sa mga pangunahing serbisyong pangkalusugan dahil sa layo ng mga pasilidad. Kaya naman patuloy kong isinusulong ang pagtatayo ng mas marami pang Super Health Centers sa buong bansa,” Go expressed.

Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the Department of Health (DOH), led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for establishing more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide, including 18 in Quezon.

Go also informed the public that they may avail of medical assistance for their healthcare needs from any of the 166 Malasakit Centers which helped around ten million Filipinos nationwide, including those nearby at the Quezon Medical Center in Lucena City or the Maria L. Eleazar General Hospital in Tagkawayan.

Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go principally authored and sponsored, seeks to make all government medical assistance programs more accessible by putting the relevant agencies under one roof.

“Ilapit natin ang serbisyong medikal sa ating mga kababayan. Patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Panginoon, serbisyo ‘yan kay Allah,” underscored Go, who is widely recognized as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to Filipinos in need.