Guimaras inaugurates new super health center

The Provincial Government of Guimaras and the Department of Health – Centers for Health Development Western Visayas laid the foundation for a super health center in Barangay Cabalagnan.

The groundbreaking ceremony on February 29, 2024, marked the establishment of the second such facility on the island, aligning with Governor JC Rahman Nava’s development agenda, “Kabataan FIRST”.

DOH-CHD Western Visayas Director Adriano P. Suba-an underscored the significance of the event.

“This groundbreaking will help attain the shared vision that all Filipinos should be among the healthiest in Asia by 2040 and will speak for the delivery of quality healthcare services.”

The super health center is a realization of a long-held aspiration, especially for the southern part of the town, as expressed by Nueva Valencia Mayor Atty. Paul Vincent De La Cruz.

“The super health center is the fulfillment of their long-time dream of having a health facility… health care services will be accessible to their citizens in distant barangays,” De La Cruz said.

Designed to serve the residents of six coastal and island barangays, the center will also alleviate the patient load on the rural health unit of Nueva Valencia.

De La Cruz highlighted the project’s alignment with the six-point agenda of the local government to upscale service delivery.

The project received commendation from Congresswoman Ma. Lucille L. Nava, MD, who praised the initiative’s role in bringing quality healthcare to the underserved areas of Nueva Valencia.

She reassured her commitment to enhancing the super health center, saying, “Rest assured tinguhaan ko gid sa Congress nga kun ano ang mga mabulig naton para ma-improve pa gid naton ang super health center… tinguhaan guid naton ina.”

The new facility is expected not only to bring healthcare closer to remote communities but also to support the Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava Provincial Hospital by handling minor cases, thus allowing the hospital to focus on more urgent and severe cases.