Two of the 11 super health centers planned for construction here this year opened on Tuesday and are now fully operational.

Situated in this city’s Barangays Los Amigos and Poblacion of Tugbok and Toril districts, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go said the facilities will provide immediate medical aid.

“(Residents of the two villages) will no longer travel to the hospitals to get medical assistance since it is already available near your areas,” he said in an interview.

He pointed out that the establishment of SHCs is necessary since the country experienced difficulties during the pandemic.

“We should invest in our healthcare. A lot of people are really in need of medical attention,” Go added.

The SHCs will provide comprehensive basic health services to the people, including an outpatient department, laboratory procedures, X-ray, ultrasound, birthing services, diagnostic, pharmacy, and emergency services.

Each PHP11.5 million health facility is funded by the Department of Health under its Health Facility Enhancement Program.

Other components, particularly the maintenance operation and staffing, will be shouldered by the local government.

“These are medium-type of polyclinics. The SHCs will help decongest our hospitals in Davao,” Go added.

Esmeralda Aranas, 45, a resident of Los Amigos, said the new health center will greatly help them, especially during emergency cases.

“We will no longer go to the hospital to get medical aid. This is a great privilege for us, and we thank the people behind this project,” she said in vernacular. (PNA)