BAGUIO CITY – A P2.7-million modernized health facility opened on Monday, December 18, that will serve 26 barangays covered by the Lucban Health Center here.
SM Foundation Executive Director for Health and Medical Programs Connie Angeles, Mayor Benjamin Magalong, and City Health Officer Cecilia Brillantes led the turnover of the facility.
MAYOR Benjamin Magalong speaks at the turnover of the newly upgraded Lucban Health Center in Baguio City on December 18. (Zaldy Comanda)
Magalong cited the opening of the health establishment.
“The design is very beautiful and it is really timely to properly serve those who need the services of this health center. This is a model to modernize all health centers in our city,” he said.
“This is a testament of really putting into place all the three components of transformation that is innovation, sustainability, and resilience. When I came in, I never expected that our health centers could be transformed. Many thanks to the SM Foundation and SM City Baguio, who chose this place to modernize a transformation in what we promote to modernize our service to the citizens," Magalong added.
Brillantes thanked SM Foundation for their unceasing assistance to the city such as schools, scholarship programs, and now health facilities.
“It is my honor and pleasure to share with you the remarkable program of SM Foundation as the charity arm of SM Group of Companies. Alongside the education, scholarship, farmers, rehabilitation program, the SM Foundation believes that health is wealth. Healthcare we all know is an essential aspect of human well-being. It serves a cornerstone of a strong and resilient community," said Angeles.
Angeles said for several years now, SM Foundation has been renovating and improving public health facilities, not only to enhance their capabilities by way of improvement and donation of equipment but also to make these facilities more responsive and conducive to the health needs and recovery of those they served.
She said, to date, the foundation has achieved an impressive milestone of establishing 201 health and wealth centers, serving over five million patients.
The Lucban Health Center is SM Foundation’s 201st improved health facility all over the country and the third wellness center for Baguio.
This health facility has sustainable solutions in the physical infrastructure such as a rainwater catchment system, energy-efficient LED lighting fixtures, and inverter appliances to optimize consumption.
Its design is the same as the old health center.
However, it now has, on the first floor, a consultation room, post-consultation room, pharmacy, triage area, admission area, breastfeeding room, minor operating and treatment room, autoclave area, sputum collection corner, physician's room, pantry, lounge, janitor's closet, hand-washing area, nursing office, and garbage collection area
On the second floor are a mobile play cabinet, family planning, prenatal, and vaccination room, adolescent room, dental room, storage and records area, and midwife’s office.