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| Health Minister Zul Qarneyn Abas emphasizes during the inauguration of the new IPHO building that the Bangsamoro government is prioritizing the standardization and upgrading of hospitals and health institutions in the region. (Jason C. Casas/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur) |
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Health Minister Zul Qarneyn Abas emphasized that the Bangsamoro government is prioritizing the standardization and upgrading of hospitals and health institutions in the region.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO)-Lanao del Sur's new building Wednesday, July 20, Abas said one of the Ministry of Health's (MOH) goals is to standardize the health facilities in the BARMM to enhance the delivery of health services.
"Marami pa po tayong dapat gawin [we still have a lot to do]. We have hospitals that are in need of upgrading. We have health institutions that need to be built," he said.
The Health Minister cited as an example the construction of more Barangay Health Stations (BHS) to serve the Bangsamoro constituents in more than 2,400 barangays of the region. Currently, the BARMM has more than 800 BHS and once the ongoing BHS projects are completed, the number of barangay facilities would reach around only a thousand. He said the BARMM is slowly looking for ways to put up additional BHS in all the villages of the region.
Abas stressed that the MOH is not only limiting its efforts to BHS but the standardization also includes provincial health offices.
"I know itong new building na 'to would be of great use to the IPHO Lanao del Sur in delivering health services to its constituents. Gusto nating maging responsive, pro-active ang ating serbisyo at sa tingin ko malaking tulong po itong bagong opisina na ito," he said.
[I know this new building would be of great use to the IPHO Lanao del Sur in delivering health services to its constituents. We want our service to be responsive, pro-active and I think this new office will be a big help.]
The construction of the new building was approved and funded by the Office of the Chief Minister while it was implemented by the provincial government which also provided the lot where the building was erected. The provincial government also installed an air conditioning system in the building.
Apart from standardization, Abas said MOH also targets to upgrade health facilities in the region with the help of the BARMM's Members of Parliament.
"Dito po kasi sa BARMM, marami pa tayong Level 1 and infirmary hospitals. Tapos ang Level 2 natin nag-iisa lang, at wala po tayong Level 3. Yung Level 3 hospital na nandito ay hindi po natin hawak dahil yun po ay DOH-retained hospital," he said.
[Because here in BARMM, we still have many Level 1 and infirmary hospitals. We have a lone Level 2 and we don't have Level 3. The Level 3 hospital here is not in our control because it is a DOH-retained hospital.]
Just recently, the Bangsamoro Parliament passed a bill aimed at upgrading the Unayan Municipal Hospital in the municipality of Binidayan. It also approved the upgrading of the Wao District Hospital in the municipality of Wao. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
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