ILOILO CITY - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has urged more investments on hospitals to become grounds for the training of nurses, doctors and other medical workers.
Arroyo during her visit in the municipality of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo last January 12, 2010, said the P37-million worth new hospital is an example of the priority projects in health services that needs an immediate attention by the government.
Arroyo inaugurated the new 50-bed hospital within the Sanitarium compound at Barangay Inangayan, Sta Barbara. It will be named President Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in the Visayas.
The Sanitarium, built in 1927, was initially a hospital for the Hansenites in this part of the country and last Tuesday, it was converted into a general hospital.
Arroyo said the Filipino nurses and doctors are in great demand throughout the world and these medical workers need more hospitals for their practicum training.
Justifying the need for more upgraded hospitals, Arroyo added that aside from being a training facility for health workers, the government hospitals will give better services to the community and solve the maternal mortality for mothers. (Lydia C. Pendon)