TAWI-TAWI – As part of the Bangsamoro Government’s continuing commitment to improve the health services in the region, Ministry of Health (MOH) on Sunday, Feb.13, turned over medical facilities and supplies to the Integrated Public Health Office (IPHO) of Tawi-Tawi.
The facilities included a 2-storey ward building worth P16-million, laboratory building worth P4-million, operating room/delivery room (OR/DR) worth P5-million – all funded through Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) 2018, and a Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility worth P10-million under Bayanihan II of the national government for Datu Halun Sakilan Memorial Hospital (DHSMH).
Also turned over were one (1) unit land ambulance for DHSMH worth P3-million, funded under the Bangsamoro Appropriations Act (BAA) 2021; one (1) unit sea ambulance for Languyan Municipal Hospital worth P3-million, funded under BARMM’s Special Development Fund (SDF) 2020; and 12 units of laptops – one each for the 11 rural health units and one for IPHO, along with 15 boxes of antigen test kits, all worth P750, 000 funded under the National Immunization Program (NIP).
Five other hospitals in the province received different equipment in the amount of P19-million under the BAA 2020 and P15-million under HFEP 2020. Also released was the Mobilization fund for National Vaccination Days (NVD) Round 3 of IPHO in the amount of P1.5 million from NIP.
MOH Assistant Secretary Abdulhalik Kashim, who led a team from the ministry’s regional office for the turnover ceremony, emphasized three points in his speech – first, a message of thanks saying: “We are always grateful sa mga blessings na ating nakukuha,” a message of responsibility: “Kung mabigyan tayo ng ambulance o iba’t-ibang aspeto mula sa gobyerno ay dapat nating pangalagaan,” and lastly, a message of love saying: “Andito kami sa Tawi-Tawi dahil mahal namin ang Tawi-Tawi.”
For his part, Tawi-Tawi IPHO Chief Dr. Sangkula Laja expressed gratitude to the Bangsamoro Government for the turned over medical facilities and supplies. “Pasalamat tayo kay Allah sa lahat ng ating natanggap sa hapong ito mula sa BARMM. Mayroon na tayong Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility at marami na rin tayong ambulances na dati ay zero tayo,” he said. (Abdel Nasser Tahang/BIO)
