ZAMBOANGA CITY—Bangsamoro region’s island provinces—Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi—received six (6) units of ambulance (3 sea and 3 land ambulances), 35 boxes of antigen tests kits, 43 units of laptops, and essential medicines from the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Friday, February 11, here in this city.
In Basilan, each of Tabuan Lasa-Rural Health Unit (RHU) and Sumisip District Hospital received 1 unit land ambulance; and the Integrated Health Office together with their 11 RHUs received 12 units of laptop, 10 boxes of antigen test kits and Php1.3-M worth of essential medicines.
Meanwhile, Lamitan City Health Office and 2 RHUs received 3 units of laptop, 5 boxes of antigen test kits, and Php300,000.00 worth of essential medicines.
In Sulu, Siasi District Hospital received 1 unit land ambulance, while Siasi Rural Health Unit received 1 unit sea ambulance. Also, the island’s Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) received 19 units of laptop, 20 boxes of antigen test kits, and Php2.1-M worth of essential medicines.
Moreover, in Tawi-Tawi, both Datu Halun Sakilan Memorial Hospital and Languyan District Hospital received 1 unit of sea ambulance, 12 units of laptop and boxes of antigen test kits.
The Bangsamoro Government has already provided a total of 73 sea and land ambulances to different health offices, hospitals, and rural health stations across the region,” said MOH Minister Dr. Bashary A. Latiph.
“I am hoping and looking forward that the ambulances could be used properly on its main purpose in responding to health emergency from home to hospital or RHU to save the lives of our needy constituents and should not be used for personal interest,” Minister Latiph added.
Latiph also emphasized that BARMM is doing its best in addressing the health problems in the Bangsamoro region, being one of the priority agenda of Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim in his administration.
The support is funded under the General Appropriations Act of of the Bangsamoro (GAAB) 2021, Special Development Fund, and National Immunization Program (NIP) Fund.
BaSulTa Provincial Health Officers and representatives, Rural Health Units, and City Health Officer of Lamitan expressed their appreciation to the MOH and Bangsamoro Government for the huge assistance they received to augment emergency situation services and support in the delivery of basic health and social care in their respective localities.
“I could not believe that the key of ambulance is already on my hand. Rest assured that we will take good care of it and use it properly in serving our utmost needed constituents in our area,” said Ms. Parida Perez, Health Education and Promotion Officer of Basilan.
“No words of expression of thanks could describe our feelings we had now for the support we received from MOH and the BARMM government as a whole,” Lamitan City Health Office Dr. Mikaela T. Puri, Chief of Technical Division, said.
Both PHO of Sulu Dr. Fahra Tan-Omar and Chief of Hospital in Siasi District Hospital Dr. Ejil A. Imlan graced the event and expressed their deepest thanks to MOH and BARMM for the continuous support they received.
Dr. Imlan said, “for more than 20 years now, we requested ambulance but we failed always. Only this time in the Bangsamoro Government that our dream come true.”
Meanwhile, MOH Director for Operation Dr. Tato Usman said, “we should be thankful on whatever favor and blessings we received. In doing well our mandates, roles and responsibilities as health service providers, we will be rewarded not only here in the world but also in the hereafter.” (Kasan M. Usop Jr./BIO)
