From left to right: Engr. Fernando Guanzon, Dr. Lilia Pascua, Board Member Sid Galban, Congressman Rommel Rico Angara, Regional Director Corazon Flores, and Dr. Lailani Mangulabnan at the DOH Central Luzon Center for Health Development during the ceremonial turnover of ambulance.
The Department of Health Central Luzon Center for Health Development (DOH CLCHD) under its Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) have turned over a total of 15 ambulances and one patient transport vehicle to the municipalities in the province of Aurora on July 19, 2021.
The project aims to enhance the resilience of the healthcare system, as well as vigilance in managing current and future public health threats in the province. This includes strengthening the capacity of the local government in preventing, detecting, isolating, and treating COVID-19 patients and scaling up of the COVID-19 response, as well as timely transport of COVID-19 patients from the community to the health facilities and hospitals in the region. These brand new vehicles will greatly assist the medical front liners in delivering quality health services to the people and respond to public health emergencies.
“This is the first time that the region is going to give this much, the biggest number of ambulances for the province of Aurora.” said Corazon I. Flores, DOH CLCHD OIC-Regional Director. “From the national government to our regional office, we are glad to turn over to all of you the 15 ambulances and one patient transport vehicle. Each municipality will get two ambulances while the municipality of Maria Aurora will have one ambulance and one patient transport vehicle that will be used to strengthen access to health care in the province. With this initiative, we are aiming to lessen the delays in patient transfer from one facility to another, therefore giving the patients coming to our care the immediate health interventions they need.” she added.
On the other hand, Congressman Rommel Angara said in gratitude: “Sa kabila ng dinadanas nating pandemya, ako po ay nagpapasalamat ng napakalaki sa DOH sapagkat kahit na napakarami ninyong inaasikaso hindi niyo pa rin pinabayaan yung aming mga ambulansya na kailangang-kailangan po namin sa lalawigan ng Aurora. Malaking tulong po ito sa amin lalo’t may mga malalayong lugar kami na kung saan may mga pasyenteng kailangan dalhin at ilipat sa ospital. Malaking tulong po ito sa amin.”
Immediate response to any emergencies and delivery of quality health services are expected within the communities, given the support and leadership of the Municipal Mayors and their local government plus the assistance and augmentation efforts from the DOH.
The said transport vehicles are a timely addition to the dedicated responders, particularly during the prevailing health crisis. Each vehicle has a medical equipment, instruments, accessories and peripherals needed to aid with any medical emergency in a respective community.
Other local chief executives who graced the event includes Mayor Rhett Ronan Angara (Baler), Ricardo Bitong (Casiguran), Joe Gorospe (Dilasag), Manuel Torres (Dinalungan), Shierwin Taay (Dingalan), Danilo Tolentino (Dipaculao), Amado Geneta (Maria Aurora), and Ariel de Jesus (San Luis).
