Davao City—Mayor Sara Duterte joined SM Foundation’s Connie Angeles and Davao City Health Officer Dr. Josephine Villafuerte in formally inaugurating the Rural Health Unit in Talomo North District on Friday.
Considered the main health center with seven sub-centers, the Talomo facility caters to 160,560 residents of seven barangays, as one of Davao’s districts with the largest population.
SM Foundation undertook the complete renovation of the Center, which now qualifies Talomo for PhilHealth accreditation for residents seeking to use their primary care benefit, maternity care benefit, and TB-Dots (tuberculosis-directly observed treatment short-course).
Its laboratory was also upgraded and expanded to meet Department of Health standards for Level 1 accreditation.
A GeneXpert testing area was likewise added for TB diagnosis and resistance testing. GeneXpert is a molecular test for TB which diagnoses tuberculosis by detecting the presence of TB bacteria as well as testing for resistance to the anti-TB drug rifampicin.
The Talomo birthing center is now equipped to make it fully operational to cater to the needs of residents. The Felicidad Sy Wellness Center for the Elderly and an activity center for children are new additions to the center.
The improved center also has the following: a reception and waiting area, pharmacy, dental room, family planning room, breastfeeding area, vaccination area, doctors’ consultation rooms, supply room, nurses station, and comfort rooms.
A pocket garden planted with greens and flowering plants named “Garden of Hope,” courtesy of the Rotary Club of Pag-asa Davao is also inside the center. It aims to provide a place of solitude for patients, both mothers and children, awaiting consultation there.
This is the 147th wellness center built by the SM Foundation and the 43rd improved Community Health Center nationwide.
On hand to witness the center’s inauguration and blessing was Vice Mayor Bernie Al-Ag, Arleen Aportadera of the Rotary Club of Pag-asa Davao, SM Foundation trustee Chito Macapagal, SM Vice President for Operations in Mindanao Oliver John Tiu, and SM City Davao mall manager Maria Lynette Angela Lopez.