SM FOUNDATION TURNS OVER RETROFITTED HEALTH CENTER TO QC

Barangay health centers are mandated to provide basic health care to residents of the barangay. These health centers are located throughout the country and serve as the cornerstone of the public health system, ensuring accessible and quality healthcare to communities.

In Quezon City, one of the barangay health centers is the Krus na Ligas Health Center located along Lt. J. Francisco St. in Barangay Krus na Ligas.  It is under the Quezon City Health Department and serves residents of Barangay Krus na Ligas, UP Campus and Teachers’ Village West translating into 73,647 residents.

Among the services being provided at the health center are Medical Consultation, Dental Consultation, Maternal and Child Health Care, National Immunization Program, Family Planning Services, National Tuberculosis Program, Environmental Sanitation, Laboratory Services, Monitoring and Tracking of Communicable diseases.

The Quezon City Health Department seeks to provide citizens with innovative, technology-driven, hybrid health services through a public-private alliance, a functional service delivery network, and sustainable financing policies and resources.

To achieve this, the city government has partnered with the private sector. One of its partners is SM Foundation, the CSR arm of the SM Group.

Recently, SM Foundation turned over a retrofitted Krus na Ligas Health Center to the city government of Quezon led by Mayor Joy Belmonte—after just 13 weeks of rehabilitation work.

SM Foundation undertook a comprehensive overhaul of the health center. Its layout and design were updated. It was also provided with new medical tools and equipment. The SM Foundation team ensured the rehabilitation works adhere to DOH standards and incompliance with the Quezon City Health Department’s initiative to upgrade the center’s status into a Primary Care Facility by January 2025.

Aside from gaining PhilHealth accreditation, the improvement of the center aims to provide a consistent level of care while continuously improving on its practices and services.

Aligning with the #SMGreenMovement and Quezon City LGU’s Green Initiative, sustainable solutions were integrated in the center’s physical infrastructure. A rainwater catchment system was installed as an additional water source for handwashing and other needs of the facility; energy-efficient LED lighting fixtures were installed and inverter appliances were provided to help reduce its ecological footprint; and air-cleaning paints were utilized to further promote a healthier environment.

With the renovation and refurbishment, the health center now boasts of a dedicated breastfeeding area, reception area, lounge for the elderly and pregnant patients, children’s play area, pharmacy, dental clinic, and a Teen Hub, a safe space for the adolescents dedicated to providing guidance and counselling in a safe and supportive environment.

An Emergency Shower and Eyewash Station was also installed by SM Foundation to provide on-the-spot decontamination to flush hazardous products from patients during emergencies.

The Krus na Ligas Health Center brings the number of SM Foundation’s wellness center to 214.