SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — More than 500 Aeta families stand to benefit from a refurbished barangay healthcare center in Pastolan Village, Hermosa, Bataan recently turned over by Redondo Peninsula Energy (RP Energy) to the local community.
Renovated through the KliniKaBarangay Health and Wellness Center initiative under RP Energy’s Katuwang Natin sa Buhay umbrella corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, the healthcare center is now fitted with equipment that include a weighing scale, blood pressure monitor, stethoscope, a microscope, an autoclave machine, nebulizer, medicine cabinets with medical supplies and even a delivery bed for the community’s use.
According to RP Energy project manager Grant Smith, the health and wellness hub will provide Aetas with basic health services that focus on maternal health and child care. “We’re glad to have this opportunity to help address the concerns and problems of RP Energy’s stakeholders including the isolated communities around the Subic Bay Freeport”.
The leader of the Pastolan tribal council thanked RP Energy for its initiative to improve the health of his community. “Kami ay nagpapasalamat sa RP Energy sa pagbibigay sa amin ng isang kumpletong health center. Bilib ako sa RP Energy, aksyon agad. Yan ang may malasakit sa mga katutubo,” Pastolan chieftain Conrado Frenilla said.
Before the formal turnover of the refurbished healthcare center, RP Energy representatives conducted a training program for the local barangay health workers. For four days, the health workers were formally trained in modules for ‘mother and baby care’ and ‘care of the sick and injured’.
“It would be improper for us to just turn over the clinic like that. We also made sure that all the concerned personnel are well-trained in basic medical care and in the use of the medical equipment”, Smith said.
The RP Energy project manager added that sustainability is a key consideration in any of the company’s initiatives.
To date, more than 250 health workers and midwives from the surrounding communities including representatives from the Indigenous Peoples (IP) sector have also been trained by the Philippine National Red Cross through RP Energy’s KliniKaBarangay program.
