A CATHOLIC priest has joined the growing protest against the impending closure of the “baby factory” in Manila.
In a statement posted on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website, Franciscan Father Dexter Toledo said the government should instead improve the Fabella Memorial Hospital than close it to cater to more mothers who can’t afford to deliver their babies.
“Instead of contemplating its closure, we call on our new leaders to develop the hospital thus helping it serve more of our citizens,” Toledo said.
The priest reminded the government that it is its task to provide quality, cheap and accessible health care and that closing Fabella hospital may not live to the vow to serve the poorest of the poor.
Fabella Hospital, according to him, has served many poor families who are in need of medical assistance especially the pregnant women because of the low cost of its services.
The prelate also admitted that he, in fact, was born in the Fabella Hospital.
“My mother in fact gave birth to me in that same hospital and forever I will be grateful to it. It deeply saddens me that there are unconfirmed talks of its possible closure,” he said.
Toledo is also the executive secretary of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines.
The government-owned maternity ward is known as a “baby factory” because it brings more than a hundred babies into the world everyday.
Various women’s groups on Thursday rallied outside the hospital to demonstrate their strong opposition against the planned closure of the facility.
They also called on President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to intervene and save the hospital from the impending abolition.
The Save Fabella Hospital Movement said the facility’s structural needs have been “criminally neglected” and its deteriorating conditions became justification for its closure.
The group said the closure could also displace more than 1,300 hospital employees, adding that many resident physicians have already received termination contract letters from the management.
