New mobile clinic to boost Biliran health services

NAVAL, Biliran, Philippines – Biliran Gov. Gerry Boy Espina recently inspected a mobile clinic purchased by the Department of Health (DOH) for the provincial government to strengthen its medical and dental missions in far-flung barangays.

The mobile clinic cost P10 million and came as a grant from the DOH. The provincial government facilitated the bidding procedure but the DOH, through its regional office in Tacloban City, regulated the release of payment.

Espina requested the installation of state-of-the-art equipment and fixtures in the clinic-on-wheels, including dental, examination room, laboratory and X-ray units, all with the necessary instruments, apparatus, support equipment and fixtures.

Custom-built with a Japan-made Isuzu engine and bus body, it also has its standby generator to provide power supply during operation in remote areas. It is also fitted with remotely controlled awning, electronically retractable projector screen, and an LCD projector for the health information campaign.

Free medical and dental missions conducted by the provincial government proved to be helpful in bringing health services to the barangays, where many residents are too poor to pay for a ride to the nearest health center, much more to buy medicine or pay for laboratory tests.

In many instances, off-duty medical and dental personnel from the provincial hospital and the provincial health office comprise the missions, with private practitioners volunteering their services, too.