(SHERNAN JABOLI, PHOTO COURTESY)
SAN JORGE, Samar– Residents of Barangay Buenavista, an interior village of this town, now have direct access to essential health care services following the turnover of a newly constructed health station.
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and World Vision Philippines formally handed over the facility to the community on Thursday, March 27.
Located more than seven kilometers from the town proper, Buenavista is home to over 800 residents who previously had to travel long distances for medical care.
Marie Sirvo, 33, a mother of seven, welcomed the new health center, saying it will provide easier access to medical services.
“We no longer have to travel to the rural health center in town or even to nearby Gandara just for a checkup,” she said in Waray.
Sirvo, who gave birth to her seventh child on October 3 last year, added that having a health center within the village will help families save on transportation costs. Villagers currently pay P40 per ride on a ‘habal-habal’ to reach the town center.
“This is the first time Buenavista will have its own health center,” she said.
Romil Jeffrey Juson, project manager for maternal, newborn, and child health at World Vision, said the health station will serve not just Buenavista but also nine nearby barangays.
“This facility will provide essential health services such as checkups, immunization, and prenatal care,” he said.
The center is also expected to offer birthing services, further improving maternal health in the area.
Juson noted that the facility will provide eight prenatal checkups for pregnant women, following World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.
“Most health centers only offer four prenatal visits, but here, we are ensuring eight, which will help detect potential health concerns for both mother and baby during pregnancy,” he explained.
Shernan Jaboli, project officer, described the new health center as a milestone for the community.
“Today is not just about the physical structure of this health station; it’s about the future and the promise of accessible, quality health care for every resident of Barangay Buenavista,” he said during the inauguration.
The P4-million facility, staffed by a midwife and a nurse, will also have scheduled visits from the town doctor. It sits on a 100-square-meter lot donated by a local resident.
Construction began in November last year and was completed this month. To ensure safety, the building was reinforced with a retaining wall, as it stands on elevated ground prone to landslides.
With this new health station, residents of Buenavista and neighboring villages now have a vital lifeline to medical care—without the burden of long and costly travel.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
