ATOK, Benguet – Access to healthcare system will be made easier with the recent inauguration of the healthcare facility in Camp 30, Barangay Caliking in Atok, the first Super Health Center in Benguet.
The Super Health Center was inaugurated on May 10 with Department of Health-Cordillera Director, Dr. Rio Magpantay; Gov. Melchor Diclas, Atok Mayor Franklin Smith; Dr. Mercy Calpito of the Provincial DOH Office; Dr. Meliarazon Dulay of the Provincial Health Office; and other health and local officials.
Diclas said the health center will serve as a primary care facility that will cater not only to the constituents of Atok, but also to the residents of nearby municipalities.
In a local radio interview, Smith said the health center will provide birthing services and imaging services such as x-ray and ultrasound.
It will also have a laboratory, dental clinic, and pharmacy, among other services.
“Napintas daytoy. It caters to our stakeholders and access to the diagnostic facility,” Smith said
The construction of the two-story facility started in the last quarter of 2021 and is already 80 percent complete.
The DOH provided P6.5 million and the local government allotted P3M as counterpart.
Smith said the facility is expected to be fully completed this year with the P2M allocation from the provincial government and an additional LGU counterpart.
Although not yet 100 percent complete, the facility can already be used for health services.
The DOH intends to build a facility in each town nationwide to decongest regional and provincial hospitals.
In support to the Philippine Health Agenda “Boosting Universal Health Care”, the Health Facilities Enhancement Program provides funds to the local government units for the improvement of public health facilities by constructing new and for upgrading and rehabilitating existing public health facilities including barangay health stations, rural health units, and government hospitals. – Debbie E. Gasingan
