Gov’t inaugurates modern birthing hospital for Region 8

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 8 (PNA) -– The Department of Health (DOH) and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc. (BCFI) inaugurated on Thursday the new four-storey Mother and Child Hospital in a new location as part of the long-term Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) modernization project.

The government constructed the new facility located at the city’s Cabalawan village through a PHP300-million donation from BCFI, a corporate social responsibility arm of Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels, Inc. chaired by billionaire Enrique Razon, Jr.

This is the first building completed at the new regional hospital site in the northern part of the city. The facility had its soft opening early last month.

DOH Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial said the project is a product of public-private partnership in the bid to provide better health services to poor Filipinos.

“We need everybody’s cooperation and assistance to make the health system work in this country. This building is a work of everybody - private sector, national government, local government, and hospital staff. They are all part of the growth and development,” Ubial said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson was present during the inauguration. He was one of the officials who looked for donors for the project in his capacity as Presidential Adviser for Rehabilitation and Recovery during the early phase of post-Yolanda recovery.

“This looks like a private hospital. This is a product of private sector initiative,” Lacson said.

The health department has called on the public to maximize the use of this birthing facility especially those living in Samar Island.

The 100-bed capacity hospital with a floor area of 4,715 square meters has formally opened on Monday after 16 months of construction.

Its outpatient department offers prenatal immunization, preventive care, growth monitoring, program for young parents, family planning, newborn screening, under five clinic, and care for small babies.

In patient services include normal deliveries, uncomplicated pre-term labor, "Unang yakap", kangaroo mother care, exclusive breastfeeding, newborn care, human milk bank, and caesarean section.

The hospital also offers ancillary services such as radiology, laboratory, dietetics nutrition, and blood bank.

Part of the EVRMC modernization program is to transfer the entire facility from the city center to a storm surge-safe area in Cabalawan village. The transfer has started this year and will be completed in 2018.

There is an ongoing construction of a new six-storey hospital and ancillary building in a new site. It has a total floor area of 30,000 square meters with 420-bed service wards and 180-bed private rooms.

The modernization program is expected to enhance the quality of services of the medical center, 

improve health outcomes, and achieve equity in access to healthcare in the region. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO