Having successfully rehabilitated two rural health units in Negros Oriental, BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, turned to Negros Occidental to work on another health center in Hinoba-an, the southernmost town of the province.
The foundation rehabilitated the Hinoba-an Rural Health Unit in partnership with the local government and in coordination with the health workers led by municipal health officer Dr. Roena Abilla.
According to Dr. Abilla, it all began when she visited the New Washington Municipal Health Center in Aklan, which was also renovated by the foundation. Seeing the improved health facilities in New Washington, she was inspired to have the decades-old health center in Hinoba-an upgraded as well.
After months of coordination between Dr. Abilla, local officials, BDO Foundation and the local BDO branch, the foundation completed the rehabilitation of the Rural Health Unit. Its overall structure, reception and waiting areas, offices, dental clinic, laboratory, storage, and other facilities were significantly improved.
New furniture and fixtures for the comfortable use of patients were installed, and a proper breastfeeding station was built to give nursing mothers privacy. An activity area filled with books and toys for children, as well as a waiting lounge for the elderly, were also constructed.
These improvements are expected to benefit close to 57,000 people from the town’s 13 barangays. Hinoba-an Rural Health Unit averages as many as 30 births per month.
The new health center was accepted by Dr. Abilla and the local government of Hinoba-an under Mayor Ernesto Estrao and Vice Mayor Jefre Encoy.
The health center was officially turned over in ceremonies led by BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito, together with BDO Dumaguete-Silliman Campus branch head Clem Fontelo, BDO Dumaguete-Colon branch head Gus Pastor, BDO Negros Oriental-Bayawan branch head Ricky Zabala and BDO Robinsons Dumaguete branch head Rose Aguilar.
BDO Foundation has rehabilitated more than 60 rural health units nationwide in line with its advocacy to help improve the delivery of primary healthcare services in economically disadvantaged and disaster-stricken provinces. The rehabilitation program is backed by BDO and One Network Bank branches all over the country.