Just before the Christmas break, SM Foundation Inc. turned over its 165th Felicidad T. Sy wellness center in Barangay Ampid 1, San Mateo, Rizal province to the three barangays of 28,000 residents using this vital health facility.
Barangay Ampid 1 is one of the biggest barangays in San Mateo, where SM City San Mateo is located. It is also one of the town’s competitive barangays, being the center of business and trade. It was awarded a drug-free barangay citation for 2019.
With the foundation’s improvement, the health center is expanding its services to include TB DOTS, medical consultation, dental services, vaccination, animal bite treatment center, pharmacy (free medicines from the local government and the Department of Health), OB Gyne consultation, and a wellness center for children and the elderly.
Dr. Eric Cayabyab, the municipal health officer, said the improvements would give more comfort to both health staff and patients, improve the staff’s productivity in treating patients and providing privacy to doctors and patients during consultations.
The most common cases handled by RHU3, he said, are common cold and cough that could lead to pneumonia; dog bites; and lifestyle diseases (diabetes, hypertension, etc.).
San Mateo has 15 barangays and three regional health units (RHU 1-Barangay Silangan; RHU2-Barangay Malanday, and RHU 3-Barangay Ampid 1).
He said the RHU looks over 10 dengue cases a week with referrals for admission at the Ynares Provincial Hospital. Because of the vigilance of midwives, the frontliners of health care in barangays, in the vaccination of children, San Mateo has been declared polio-free.