COTABATO CITY— As part of the ongoing expansion of the provision of medical services in the Bangsamoro region, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is building a health office for the residents of the Special Geographic Area (SGA).
Furthermore, MOH also inaugurated three Barangay Health Stations(BHS) for each of the villages of Batulawan, Balungis, and Fort Pikit in SGA.
The groundbreaking for the health office and inauguration of the BHS were led by MOH Deputy Minister Dr. Zul Qarneyn Abas and Director II for Operations Dr. Tato Usman on March 31.
“(The BHS) will provide primary healthcare services with a focus on empowering individuals to take control of their own health, by offering convenient and accessible health services at the barangay level,” Abas said.
According to Abas, the health stations were funded under the Tiyakap Bangsamoro Kalusugan Program 2021 projects.
Meanwhile, Usman said, “MOH is entrusted with providing health services in the Bangsamoro Region, which includes building such a facility through the HFDD where there are resources and healthcare professionals who may assist us with medical care in our Barangay.”
Parliament Member Mohammad Kelly Antao, who is a native SGA resident, emphasized that the health facilities are “one of the outcomes of the Bangsamoro’s struggle to address everyone’s health needs and prevent diseases that can be prevented. We are grateful to MOH for providing SGA with this opportunity.”
The inauguration and groundbreaking ceremonies were also attended by Local Government Unit of Pikit North Cotabato, headed by Mayor Sumulong Sultan, and Batulawan Barangay Captain Bai Lana Matalam who both expressed their gratitude for the projects and commitment to support the initiatives of the regional government. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO with reports from MOH)
