TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc. (BCFI) formally turned over to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) the Mother and Child Hospital designed to help bring down the maternal mortality rate in the region.
Health Sec. Paulyn Ubial led in the turnover of the four-level facility located within the complex of the new EVRMC at Barangay Cabalawan on Sept.8
The government constructed the new facility located at the city’s Cabalawan village through a P300 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.
“The (operation) of this facility is also design to help bring down the mortality rate (here in the region),” Ubial said, noting that the facility is equipped with state-of- the- art facilities.
Eastern Visayas has one of the highest mortality death rates at more than a 100 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
The Mother and Child building is designed to accommodate at least 150 patients.
At present, one doctor is on a 24- hour duty at the new facility assisted by 24 nurses.
Each room of the facility is equipped with built-in oxygen machine, ceiling fan, sink and bathroom.
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.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO)
