THE Korean government recently turned over three hospitals to Iloilo as part of the local government’s Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) Health System Strengthening Project.
Built from a P339-million grant from the Korean government and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the project includes the construction of the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (CEmONC) facilities and provision of equipment to three district hospitals, including the Aleosan District Hospital in Alimodian, Dr. Ricardo S. Provido Memorial District Hospital in Calinog and Jesus M. Colmenares Memorial District Hospital in Balasan.
Aside from the construction of CEmONC facilities and provision of equipment, a number of health personnel were also sent to Korea to undergo training and capacity building.
The project augmented the bed capacities of Aleosan District Hospital with 40 beds, JCMDH with 48 beds and DRSPMDH with 32 beds.
KOICA also provided other medical equipment to the three hospitals, such as x-ray machines, ultrasound machines, hospital beds, laboratory equipment and generator sets.
The ceremonial turnover of the newly completed CEmONC facilities was held at Aleosan District Hospital with Korean Ambassador Kim Jae-shin as the honored guest. Also in attendance were KOICA Country Director Shin Myung-seop, Department of Health Assistant Secretary Leonita Gorgolon, Provincial Administrator Raul Banias and Mayors Geefre Alonsabe of Alimodian, Marina Gorriceta of San Miguel, Rolito Cajilig of Leon and Manuel Ganzon of Balasan.
In his message, Kim acknowledged the strong commitment of Gov. Arthur Defensor to the partnership between Iloilo province and the Korean government.
At the same time, he also emphasized that health care is one of the priority areas of Korean development cooperation in the Philippines.
Kim said the “success of the partnership is rooted in the shared belief that improvement of the people’s health will help solve poverty and achieve socioeconomic development.
Defensor became emotional in expressing his heart-felt thanks to the government of Republic of Korea for the implementation of the project.
“We sincerely thank KOICA and the government of the Republic of Korea for this project, which could greatly improve health services for our people,” Defensor stressed.
Iloilo GIDA Health System Project primarily aims to strengthen the maternal and child health service delivery system of the three recipient district hospitals and the Rural Health Units (RHUs) of nine municipalities including Alimodian, Leon, San Miguel, Calinog, Bingawan, Balasan, Batad, Estancia and Carles.