CEBU CITY (Oct. 19, 2023) – Residents won’t need to go far just to avail of free diagnostic and laboratory examinations, among others.

This as Mayor Mike Rama and other local officials broke ground on the city’s new Super Family Health Center (SFHC) in Barangay Labangon yesterday.

Rama was joined by his nephew, Cebu City South District Rep. Eduardo “Edu” Rama Jr. and Dr. Daisy Villa of the Cebu City Health Department during the groundbreaking.

Mini hospital. Cebu City South District Rep. Eduardo “Edu” Rama Jr. delivers his message. Behind him is the proposed design of the Super Family Health Center in Labangon. 📷 𝘗𝘐𝘖 / 𝘙𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰

Also present were officials of the Department of Health (DOH)’s Central Visayas office. 

Villa told Cebu City News that the SFHC will serve as a “mini hospital” as it can provide medical services that the city’s rural health centers cannot provide.

Villa said it has its own diagnostic services such as ultrasound, electrocardiogram (ECG), and X-ray, among others. 

It also provides free medical laboratory and maternity services, she added.

“Kana siya mao nay i-equip nato sa mga tawo nga kung need tag specialista pwede nato i call up para mo tabang og tan-aw referral whatever result sa atong X-Ray, ECG, so kana siya mao na siyay actually madangpan sa tanan nga wala sa atong mga center ug layo ang mga center,” Villa said.

Mayor Mike Rama. 📷 PIO / Ruel Rosello

She said the facility can help residents who live far from the city limits and need to undergo laboratory and diagnostic tests. 

“Dako siya of course with all the other mga needs nga e-equip nato as many hospital kay kadaghanan man nato sa atong mga health centers is lagyo kaayo sa mga laboratories, kung naa man gani mga private laboratory ang naa,” she added.

The “mini hospital” in Labangon is but one of 19 similar facilities that the DOH will construct in Cebu. 

The SFHC, a pet project of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, is aimed to further improve the Filipino people’s access to government health services, especially during health crises, such as the Covid pandemic.

CHD’s Dr. Daisy Villa. 📷 PIO / R

The proposed centers will have the following services: laboratory facilities, pharmacy, birthing facilities, out-patient department, dental services, comprehensive PhilHealth out-patient department, and other minor services. 

The human resource needs of the super health center will be sourced from rural health units.

The construction and equipping of these centers will be under the DOH’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program. | PIO / NJY