ZAMBOANGA Sibugay Governor Wilter Yap Palma announced that the Provincial Government is set to inaugurate the P50-million dialysis center this month.
Palma said the inauguration of the center will highlight the 19th "Araw ng Sibugay" on February 24, although they have canceled all the activities lined up for anniversary as a preventive measure against the possible entry of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) into the province.
Palma clarified that only the activities lined up for the anniversary were canceled but not the commemoration of the "Araw ng Sibugay."
He said the dialysis center built in a 482-square-meter lot inside the compound of the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Hospital.
Palma said the 22-chair dialysis center project was realized through a public-private partnership between the Provincial Government and the Davao City-based 99 Commercial incorporated, the supplier of the Fresenius medical care products.
He said the establishment of the dialysis center is part of his advocacy to provide quality health care services to the Sibugaynons.
Meanwhile, he urged the people to understand why all the activities have been canceled, citing his priority is the safety of the lives of every Sibugaynons.
Palma issued the order following the recommendation of the provincial health board, provincial disaster risk reduction management council and executive committee of the provincial development council when they met on Wednesday, February 5, in a two-hour emergency meeting.
Palma said the cancellation is based on the declaration the World Health Organization (WHO) that considers the 2019-nCoV as public health emergency of international concern.
The Provincial Government, as early as November 2019, has lined up series of activities for the eight-day Araw ng Zamboanga Sibugay from February 17 to 24, which include the following: motocross, basketball tournament, music festivals, agro-fishery trade fair, Sibugay exhibit, drum and lyre competition, music festival, gabi ng parangal, sepak takraw, extreme off road, XTR circuit race, car and motor show, duathlon race, table tennis tournament, jobs fair, and Binibing Sibugay. (SunStar Zamboanga)