The Provincial Government of Sarangani will soon inaugurate its first-ever dialysis center. Governor Rogelio “Ruel” D. Pacquiao led the groundbreaking ceremony, which was attended by the province's officials at the Sarangani Capitol compound on Wednesday, February 21.
The dialysis center, costing P33 million, will be constructed in a 250-square-meter area adjacent to the prosthetics building and psychiatric ward of the Sarangani Provincial Hospital (SPH).
Governor Pacquiao stated that the groundbreaking of the dialysis center embodies the "government's pledge for responsive and, more importantly, compassionate governance."
Dr. Aileen Brion, the Chief of Hospital at SPH, said the facility would bridge the gap between the desired and actual level of services offered in a tertiary-level hospital. Among the six hospitals in Sarangani, Dr. Brion identified hypertension, diabetes, and other renal problems as among the top 10 morbidities. These conditions, “if not controlled or treated,” according to Dr. Brion, “may lead to end-stage renal problems.”
Dialysis is a critical requirement for patients suffering from advanced chronic kidney disease and kidney failure when renal replacement is not possible. Hence, Dr. Brion emphasized the urgency for the center to be established soon.
The two-story facility will be equipped with 20 hemodialysis chairs and an electrical setup that can accommodate equipment like the hemodialysis machine, reverse osmosis, and mobile X-ray, among others. The hemodialysis clinic will consist of the dialysis service complex and the non-treatment areas, including the reception area.
The dialysis service complex will house the hemodialysis station, nurses' station, water treatment room, supply and storage room, dialyzer reprocessing area, and room for sterile instruments and supplies. Meanwhile, the non-treatment area will cater to the business office, doctor’s office, waiting area, toilet, and pantry.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Dialysis Center coincided with the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Animal Bite Treatment Center and HIV/AIDS Treatment Hub. Governor Pacquiao said the unveiling of the Red Ribbon Hub “will serve as a beacon of hope in Sarangani’s collective fight against HIV/AIDS.”
According to Dr. Brion, Sarangani will be the third LGU in SOCCSKSARGEN to have its own HIV Treatment Hub, following South Cotabato and General Santos City. She mentioned that the SPH already has a trained Infectious Diseases Team “who will conduct the counseling, the testing, and provide all necessary medications like antivirals, all of which are provided free of charge.”
She also encouraged the public not to be afraid to visit the hub, get tested for HIV, and avail themselves of free counseling and other services. To address the increasing number of HIV patients, Dr. Brion said the goal is to “capture” and “conduct all necessary interventions.”
She expressed hope that the opening of the doors of the treatment hub “will eventually break the HIV/AIDS stigma.”
The establishment of the HIV Treatment Hub and Animal Bite Treatment Center, alongside the groundbreaking of the Sarangani Dialysis Center, is a manifestation of Governor Pacquiao’s commitment to improve the health and well-being of every Sarangan by “bringing accessible and affordable health services even closer to the people.”
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