Buluan District Hospital (BDH) received brand-new medical equipment from the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines. The endeavor is part of the EU and WHO’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and services in the Philippines.
Dr Rui Paulo de Jesus, WHO Representative to the Philippines, officially turned over various medical equipment to Dr Rizaldy L. Piang, Acting Chief of Hospital of Buluan District Hospital and Minister of Health of the BARMM. (Photo Credit: Albert John Enrico A. Dominguez/ WHO Philippines)
The donation - valued at over Php 6.5 million - includes medical equipment aimed at improving the capacity of BDH. These resources will be critical in supporting the local healthcare system and ensuring that the public has access to high-quality medical care.
"This joint initiative underscores the importance of strengthening healthcare systems at the local level. The donated equipment will significantly contribute to the hospital's ability to provide better healthcare services to the Bangsamoro community. These contributions align with WHO's mission to promote health and serve the most vulnerable. " Dr Rui Paulo de Jesus, WHO Representative to the Philippines.
Through the donation, which includes a blood bank refrigerator, infusion pumps, and x-ray machines, amongst others, patients will be able to receive necessary treatment at BDH and no longer have to travel to the next nearest tertiary hospital for two hours.
Dr Rizaldy L. Piang, Acting Chief of Hospital of Buluan District Hospital and Minister of Health of the BARMM, expressed gratitude to the EU and WHO for the donated equipment. “The support extended by WHO is a demonstration of the organization's commitment to global health, and we are honored to be a beneficiary of such compassion and dedication,” said Dr Piang.
Dr Rizaldy L. Piang, Acting Chief of Hospital of Buluan District Hospital and Minister of Health of the BARMM, expressed gratitude to the EU and WHO for the donated equipment. (Photo Credit: Albert John Enrico A. Dominguez/ WHO Philippines)
“The European Union is proud to be supporting the work of the BARMM’s Ministry of Health and the Buluan District Hospital to strengthen the healthcare system, so that it can effectively respond to the needs of communities”, said Mr Christoph Wagner, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to the Philippines about this donation.
The turnover ceremony was attended by Dr Mohammad Ariff Baguindali from the Maguindanao Provincial Health Office, Dr Rizaldy Piang from the BDH, Dr Rui Paulo de Jesus and Dr Yui Sekitani from the WHO Philippines, and other key stakeholders.
This donation is part of the 20 million euro (Php. 1.232 billion) “South East Asia Health Pandemic Response and Preparedness” programme, in which the EU has partnered with the WHO and the ASEAN Secretariat to strengthen the region’s national health systems to tackle the COVID 19 pandemic and help ensure they could cope with future health crises. Over the past three years, the programme has invested around 2.3 million euro (Php. 141.68 million) in the Philippines.