The Malabon City Government is now offering free 2D EchoCardiography (2D Echo) screening following the inauguration of the city's first two-dimensional machine at the Ospital ng Malabon (OSMAL) on Thursday, March 21.
In an event dubbed as “Emerging Trends in Radiology: Welcoming Digitalization,” the city government led by Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, acquired other equipment such as 3D/4D-capable sonography (ultrasound) and new digital panels for digital radiography (x-ray).
The equipment will help in detecting heart and respiratory diseases and also obstetrics and gynecologic concerns.
Sandoval said the new equipment will be a big help in giving better medical services to the residents.
“Napakalaking tulong ng mga bagong equipment na ito upang matulungan pa natin ang mga Malabuenong may sakit o karamdaman sa puso na hindi na nila kakailanganing pumunta sa malalayong ospital dahil mayroon na tayong magagamit dito sa Ospital ng Malabon para sa kanila (These new equipment are very helpful so that we can even help Malabuenos with heart disease or other illnesses and they no longer need to go to distant hospitals because we now have the equipment available here at the Malabon Hospital for them),” she said.
According to OSMAL chief Dr. Jennifer Jane Amolo-Lim, the new local-government funded equipment will make the hospital’s radiography services digitalized and would be safer for residents. They will also provide accurate diagnosis through advanced technology.
“Digital x-rays can result in up to 70-80 percent lower doses of radiation versus film. Even film x-rays are safe, so this significant decrease is great news for Malabueños who still worry about the effects of radiation exposure. This also helps our physician to treat diseases correctly providing better service to all Malabueños. While the upgrade in our ultrasound equipment could greatly help due to its added features, we can now do other procedures such as congenital anomaly screening, vascular ultrasound as well as 3D imaging, with better resolution; better abdominal, pelvic, and cranial (for babies) ultrasound results for babies, pregnant women and it can detect other diseases,” Dr. Lim said.
She also said that through the machine, the real-time motion of the heart and its anatomical structure can be observed which will provide more accurate results of the patient’s condition than the electrocardiogram (ECG) tests.
Residents in need of the procedure may go to the OSMAL’s outpatient Department for consultation and will be given to them free of charge.
The services will be available from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Emergency Services will also be accommodated 24 hours everyday at the Emergency Care Department.
“Ating prayoridad dito sa Malabon na mapabuti ang pagbibigay ng serbisyo sa mga residenteng nangangailangan , lalo na sa serbisyong medikal (Our priority here in Malabon is to improve the provision of services to residents in need, especially medical services),” Mayor Jeannie said.