POLOMOLOK, South Cotabato – More residents of Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas here will be able to avail of quality health care services at the Polomolok East Community Clinic and the Polomolok FTS Center and Animal Bite Clinic with the turn over and inauguration of the renovated health center to the local government unit by SM Foundation recently.
A RENOVATED health center was turned by the SM Foundation to the local government unit of Polomolok, South Cotabato recently.
The Polomolok East Community Clinic serves as the annex facility of the Polomolok Municipal Health Department.
The renovation was undertaken in partnership with the LGU and the Mahintana Foundation Inc. based here.
Mahintana Foundation was established on August 12, 1977 and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 12, 1977. Its programs benefit communities in Region 12 and other provinces in Mindanao. It has programs in public health, livelihood, and housing as well as environment protection. Through the years, it has established networks and linkages with local and international organizations giving rise to its myriad programs and projects that benefit many residents of GIDAs.
Historically, SM Foundation’s programs and projects have benefitted many individuals from GIDAs and members of the Indigenous Peoples community such as Aetas and T’bolis.
With the renovation, the center has been repainted, consultation rooms were provided with partitions for privacy, the pharmacy was upgraded and provided with needed drugs and medicines; and lighting as well as ventilation were improved.
SM Foundation also created hydration and nebulization areas. For nursing mothers, the center now has a comfortable breastfeeding area with a couch, a new airconditioning unit and a refrigerator for milk storage.
SM Foundation also included new facilities, such as the Felicidad T. Sy area for elderly and children, handwashing area, rainwater catchment system, and a mobile play cabinet that will better suit the needs of the community.
With the renovation, greater comfort for patients and healthcare providers was assured and healthcare delivery was improved.
The center services Barangays Maligo, Landan, Kinilis, Silway 7, Upper Klinan, Klinan 6, Cannery 1, Cannery 2, Lamcaliaf, and Palkan whose residents predominantly belong to the IP community.
Present during the inauguration and turn over ceremony was Dr. Aristides C. Tan, DOH-12 regional director, who hailed the project as a "foundation of health and prosperity" for the community.
SM Executive Director for Health and Medical Programs Connie Angeles led the SM Foundation team for the event. She expressed SMFI’s appreciation for the support of the LGU and the Mahintana Foundation in delivering healthcare services to the needy through its health programs.
Mahintana's health programs include the Task Force Polomolok Kalikasan, Kaligtasan at Kalusugan (TFP3K), and the HealthPlus shop-in-a-shop now located in the PECC in collaboration with Dolefil.
Also in attendance were Lisa Duropan-Hora, executive director, Mahintana Foundation; Dr. Eva B. Hormigos, trustee, Mahintana Foundation; Dole Philippines Inc. VP Yohei Kajikawa, Mary Jane D. Cruz and Raquel Ramirez, Dolefil human resources director and manager, respectively.
Representing the LGU of General Santos were John Licayan, DILG chief of staff; Capt. Rogie Munoz of the 10th SF Company, Gerardo Barrientos, municipal administrator representing LGU Polomolok; Leo Cordova, Sangguniang Bayan committee chairperson on peace development and agriculture; Jerome Ante, Municipal IPMR, tribal chieftain of Barangay Landan; Calixto B. Salada, municipal councilor; Rogen Ermitanio, barangay captain of Cannery Site, and barangay captains of the other eight barangays.
Representing SM were Engr. Hermon L. Hernandez, mall manager of SM General Santos, and Marky Vincent Cordero, PR manager of SM General Santos.