CEBU, Philippines — The Mandaue City Health Office is hoping to start the construction of its first Super Health Center by the end of the year which will be located behind its building in Barangay Centro.
Dr. Debra Maria Catulong, Mandaue CHO head, said that the City Engineering Office is currently processing the bidding and contract signing for the Super Health Center's contractor.
"Ang importante nga naa na tay paabuton nga Super Health Center diri sa Mandaue City," said Catulong.
The city health office announced its plans to construct the Super Health Center on January 30 of this year.
Catulong previously said that this project is a collaboration between the Mandaue City government and the Department of Health (DOH) which aims to provide better healthcare services to the residents of Mandaue.
The CHO head said the DOH has initially allocated P11.5 million to fund the construction of a three-floor facility. However, Catulong said that the initial budget will not suffice to complete the center. As such, when the construction begins, the Super Health Center will be done in phases.
Catulong said that Mayor Jonas Cortes, prior to his dismissal from service, had already assured that the city will have its counterpart for DOH's budget for the Super Health Center.
"Ato pa nang hulaton kay mag agad pa ta sa budget sa atoang government," said Catulong.
Additionally, the city health office head said that they are also requesting DOH for more funds to achieve the completion of the center by 2025.
She said the ground floor of the Super Health Center will serve as a birth center. The second floor will be for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The third floor, meanwhile, will serve as an information system or data management system clinic.
Catulong explained that the primary purpose of the center is to bring medical services closer to residents in the barangays, as some travel far to get to the MCHO.
"Mas dako siya, mas daghan siya og services, ang nakanindot lang sa Super Health Center package sa DOH, suportaan sad ta sa mga equipment," she said.
The establishment of Super Health Centers is an initiative by the DOH that offers a wide range of services. These centers will serve as advanced versions of rural health units and mid-sized polyclinics, providing outpatient care, birthing facilities, isolation units, and a variety of diagnostic services, including x-rays and ultrasounds.
Super Health Centers will also provide specialized services, including consultations for eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) issues, oncology care, physical therapy, and telemedicine, to address the specific needs of patients.
Catulong said the upcoming Super Health Center will be equipped with all the necessary laboratories and facilities to provide top-notch medical services.
She said that it will be convenient for Mandaue residents as they will no longer have to travel to nearby cities like Cebu City for their healthcare needs.
In July this year, the Cebu City Government alongside DOH)-7, Cebu City Health Department, and key stakeholders, opened the first Super Health Center in Central Visayas. — (FREEMAN)