DOH-CV CHD visits NegOr, Dumaguete to strengthen healthcare services in the area

DUMAGUETE CITY—The Department of Health Central Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH Central Visayas CHD) visited the Province of Negros Oriental and Dumaguete City local government to discuss ways on how to strengthen their healthcare services.

Officials from the DOH-CV CHD led by Assistant Regional Director Sophia Mancao did the courtesy visits in February this year to engage local government units (LGUs) and to align local healthcare initiatives with the DOH’s mandate.

Mancao bared that the discussion with NegOr governor Manuel Cahco Sagarbaria and Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo dwelt mainly of the establishment of Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) facilities.

They identified Guihulngan District Hospital, Bais District Hospital, or Bayawan District Hospital as initial BUCAS sites because of their strategic locations. Mayor Remollo highlighted the potential of the Dumaguete City Super Family Health Center to serve this function, Mancao revealed.

According to DOH-CV CHD, the BUCAS Facilities provide patients with outpatient consultation, laboratory tests, minor surgery as well as emergency care to be managed by the national government through the DOH and its retained hospitals.

BUCAS facilities serve as augmentation of support to the service delivery capacities of the LGUs and help decongest admissions with certain medical cases handled at appropriate levels of care.

The health department delegation with the Provincial Health Officer and Negros Oriental PHO Blood Focal, Dr. Liland Zoila Estacion also had talks on strengthening the NOPH Blood Bank’s operations to establish it as a premier blood service facility in the province of Negros Oriental. (Photos: DOH7)