A NEW barangay health station will soon rise in the mountain village of Cabatbatan in San Fernando, Cebu as stakeholders collaborating to build it broke ground recently in a property that Solid Earth Development Corp. (SEDC) provided.

SEDC donated 188 square meters of its property in Sitio Labigan, Cabatbatan to the barangay after its rural health workers and village chief Tomas Baclaan sent a formal request on Feb. 19, 2018.

Rural nurse Florie Neil C. Arreglo and midwife Cecilia G. Deguinon sought a strategic site at the crossing lane going to barangays Cabatbatan and Magsico.

Both cited “growing health care needs as population continues to grow and expand” as reason to set up the health station. The Department of Health (DOH) 7 has allocated P1.7 million under its Health Facilities Enhancement Program for the project.

SEDC and Cabatbatan officials sealed the deed of donation in April 2018, and proceeded with the groundbreaking recently with municipal administrator Ricci Regen G. Reluya and Councilor Philip John D. Medalla, chairman of the committee on health in the local legislature.

Dr. Alfredo P. Manugas VI, the municipal health officer, and DOH 7 development management officer Alma Ludalin G. Naboya also participated in the ceremonies.

Several barangay residents witnessed the occasion.

Mitzie Almira I. Carin, SEDC division manager for human resources and administration, said the health station will be the first of its kind in San Fernando as it will comply with the latest DOH standards for a primary care facility.

The health station will be equipped with a room for health services like family planning.

It will have a room for nurses and midwives for pre-natal check-ups and counselling.

A ramp for persons with disabilities will also be constructed.