With the inauguration of the Hinobaan-an District Hospital, residents of the southernmost town in the province have now access to better and more expanded health services.
The inauguration was held on Thursday, April 23. The health facility, formerly the Eleuterio T. Decrna Memorial Hospital at Barangay Bacuyangan, has a new home – at Barangay Po-ok.
Gov. Bong Lacson and Hinoba-an Mayor Daph Reliquias led officials during the inauguration.
Among those who attended were Board Member Jeffrey Tubola, Provincial Health officer Dr. Ma. Girlie Pinongan and Provincial Engineer Ernie Mapa.
Rev. Fr. June Calidgid, St. Michael the Archangel Parish Priest, officiated the blessing rites.
Hospital Chief Dr. Ma. Lalaine Teorima said that the former 10-bed infirmary is expected to be upgraded shortly into a 25-bed Level 1 hospital following a Sangguaniang Panlalawigan Resolution late last year.
“With the inauguration of the hospital,” the hospital Chief said, “we begin this new chapter with a strong sense of responsibility and purpose – to continuously improve our services and safeguard the health and well-being of the people of Hinoba-an and nearby communities.”
Other than Hinoba-an residents, the hospital serves residents of Sipalay City, Candoni as well as nearby communities of Basay City in Negros Oriental.
Also included in the inaugural-day activities was the launch of the hospital’s Healthy Workplace Program and the DOH Licensing, Monitoring and Technical Assistance unit.
A sidelight in the program was the presentation of a token for the governor – his miniature image in his De La Salle basketball uniform, which elicited an “I wasn’t expecting this” reaction from the pleasantly surprised Capitol executive. Gov. Lacson was a member of the DLSU basketball team.
Dr. Teorima said the hospital has presently 126 personnel, 26 of whom are enjoying permanent status. The total number of personnel includes 19 outsourced workers augmented by the Hinoba-an LGU volunteers and agency guards.
The number, she added, will be expanded – once the Level 1 status takes effect – to include five clinical consultant staff (for OB-Gyn, Pediatrics, Medicine, Surgery and Anaesthesia), 23 nurses, two medical technicians and a medical records officer.
Reiterating the commitment of the HDH to serve the health and well-being needs of southern Negros residents, Dr. Teorima said: “As chief of the hospital, I personally assure our community that we are committed to delivering efficient, accessible and high- quality health care services to every patient we serve.”
Our team is dedicated to providing timely, compassionate and professional care, guided by the highest standards of safety and excellence, she added. (More HDH inauguration photos on Page 10)
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