TACLOBAN CITY- The Northwestern Leyte District Hospital (NLDH) in Calubian, Leyte has a new emergency room which was constructed at a cost of P2.8 million. The construction of the new emergency room of the NLDH was made through the health facility enhancement program of the Department of Health (DOH), said its chief of hospital, Dr. Norberto Oja. The DOH has allocated more than P400 million for the upgrading or repair of health facilities in the region like that of the NLDH. The upgrading and rehabilitation of public health facilities is in line with the DOH’s goal of providing universal health care in partnership with the local government units. Quality healthcare and providing a better health service are expected with the upgrading of health facilities. It was learned from Oja that the new emergency room of the NLDH is also equipped with rabies vaccines. Thus, victims of animal bites, particularly from dogs, would no longer go to hospitals based in Naval, Biliran or in Tacloban for treatment. Calubian is located in the northwestern tip of Leyte and faces Biliran Island. Travel time to Tacloban City, the region’s capital, takes at least three hours ride. Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, who was present during the turn-over ceremony and inauguration of the new health facility for the NLDH, said the ER would provide great help for people living in northwestern part of the province. Other hospitals in Leyte which received financial assistance from the DOH under its health facility enhancement program are the Leyte Provincial Hospital, Tabango Community Hospital, Villaba Community Hospital, Baybay City Health Office, Tabango rural health unit, Carigara District Hospital, Dr. Manuel B. Veloso Memorial Hospital, Ormoc District Hospital, Isabel Medical Center, Abuyog District Hospital and Hilongos District Hospital. (AHLETTE C. REYES)
