FIVE down, two to go.
Thus said Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna as she inaugurated the Lanuza Super Health Center in Sta. Cruz, the fifth of its kind under her administration.
It was learned that the opening of the said super health center has brought to already five such kinds of medical institutions that were built since Lacuna assumed mayorship in 2022. The first four were the Aurora Health Center in District 1; Tayabas Health Center, District 2; San Sebastian Health Center, District 3 and Pedro Gil Health Center, District 5 with two more underway, namely Isidro Mendoza and Maria Clara.
Lacuna took pride that all said super health centers are equipped with facilities that make them function like mini hospitals, to better serve the residents in the areas where they were built.
During the inauguration where the lady mayor was joined by Vice Mayor Yul Servo, Congressman Joel Chua, City Councilors Fa Fugoso, Karen Alibarbar and Maile Atienza, Manila Chinatown Barangay Organization head Jeff Lau, Manila Health Department chief Dr. Arnold Pangan, Lanuza Health Center physician-in-charge Dr. Elmer Ulanday and barangay officials, Lacuna said the Lanuza Health Center, also located in District 3, comes complete with a surgical room, vaccine ref and walk-in chiller, among others.
“Sa pagpasok pa lang ninyo ay mayroon ditong magandang reception lobby at nilagyan na rin ng lift para sa ating mga PWDs sa kanilang pag-akyat sa ikalawang palapag. Doon naman sa itaas ay mayroon pa ring reception lobby, nandun ang pharmacy, ang records room, mayroon ding surgical room, sterilization room, treatment room, dental room, extraction room, supply room at mga storage rooms. Mayroon na ring lugar para sa laboratory at mga medical clinics,” Lacuna stated.
She said the building of such super health centers is part of efforts to strengthen the local government’s approach to strengthening the capabilities of the city’s health centers in providng effective primary health care for the residents of Manila.
“Dahil po sa ang inyong lingkod ay isang doktor, prayoridad ng ating administrasyon ang pangangalaga sa kalusugan ng ating mga kapwa Manilenyo. Minabuti nating mabigyan ang lahat ng health centers ng basic laboratory units upang yung mga simpleng blood tests ay maisagawa na sa health center pa lang at di na ninyo kakailanganing pumila pa sa mga ospital,” Lacuna said.
Also in accordance with the Universal Health Care, the lady mayor said it is important for the residents to know that health centers also entertain those who want to register with Philhealth, adding that registered patients may also get their free, basic maintenance medicines from the centers.
Stressing that prevention is always better than cure, Lacuna stressed that through the health centers, the residents are assured that their health will be properly assessed and taken care of, while preventing the onset of illnesses, even as primary vaccines for babies and the elderly are also made available there.
“Kaya huwag sana kayong magdalawang-isip na bumisita sa inyong health center upang makapag-avail na ating primary health care services. Libre po lahat ng serbisyo ng ating Manila Health Department. Ito ang alay namin sa inyo, ang tapat at totoong serbisyo na may mataas na kalidad para sa bawat Manilenyo,” Lacuna added.
