22nd military medical facility gets new look

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 20): 22nd military medical facility gets new look

The renovation of Camp Panacan Station Hospital inside the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao in Panacan, Davao City is now completed giving the 22nd military facility a new look.

It also earned the military hospital an accreditation from the Department of Health (DOH) as Level 1 Health Care Facility in addition to the accreditation as PhilHealth member.

The renovation and refurbishment were courtesy of the SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) in its aim to make the facilities more responsive and conducive for the benefit of the uniformed men and women who risk their lives for the defense and security of the country.
In her brief message during the blessing of the facility on Wednesday, SMFI senior assistant vice president and executive director for Health and Medical Program Connie Angeles said, “Our advocacy has extended to benefit the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and to the Philippine National Police with the latest of which are the Marines and the Scout Rangers whose activity centers and station hospitals we have inaugurated.”

"We are deeply honored in our own little way to contribute to those who serve the country specifically with this project on the improvement of Camp Panacan Station Hospital in this city," she added.

Angeles said SMFI also committed support for the maintenance and upkeep of the facility.

The Camp Panacan Station Hospital is of 38-bed capacity with an operating room, emergency room, seven hospital wards including an Officers Ward, Heroes Ward for battle casualties, a physical therapy room, an outpatient department, a pharmacy, an EG room, a reception, a waiting area, a storage room, an administrative office and the commanding officers room.

It is now equipped with basic ancillary services such as the 12-lead ECG, radiography with complete clinical laboratory and an x-ray room.

Meanwhile, Angeles said they will have more similar projects for the military, their dependents and authorized civilians emphasizing "the renovation and refurbishing of military hospitals throughout the country is a gift of Mr. Henry Sy and his family to all of you who risks your lives and limbs for us to enjoy the power of freedom and this is the reason why we came in full force to honor you today".

According to her, the other health facilities in Davao which were renovated and refurbished by SMFI are the out-patient department of the Southern Philippines Medical Center and the Tagum Health Center.

Among the naval station hospitals in the country, SMFI renovated and refurbished the Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui Hospital, Camp Aquino Station Hospital, First Scout Ranger Regiment Dispensary, Fort Del Pilar Station Hospital, Fort Magsaysay Station Hospital, Air Force City Hospital, Camp Nakar Station Hospital, Fernando Airbase Hospital and the AFP Medical Center.

For his part, Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado, Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy, said there is a great impact on the improvement of their medical facilities as it would boost the morale of the soldiers.

First to the soldier, he said is having a treatment facility which caters to their needs to regain strength before going back to the mission.

As flag officer of the Philippine Navy, Mercado said, "I am the one who gave direction to our ships to be out at sea or marines to go out in the field on harm's way hoping that I will not receive a report of any of our personnel wounded worst killed in action".

"We know the perils of our job and at the end of the day we are assured what SM has done that here in Eastern Mindanao, Davao to be exact when I direct the commander to send out ships in our borders and when I direct the commander to send our marines in operations in areas where they are exposed to high risks, I know that when anything happens to them we have a station that will provide them with very nice medical service," he said.

He said their donors like SMFI keep them going to protect the people.

"We do not mind to be in harm's way in protecting you as long as at the end of the day we get not the recognition but at least the appreciation that we had been doing our tasks properly," he said. "You are also our fellow comrades," he added.

"You may not be directly involved in protecting our people in this country but I can assure you that the efforts you are doing to us are in no way rank lower than all my combat soldiers are doing because at the end of the day what keeps us moving is people like you who continue to give us love and support of what we are doing," he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1001970