Hospital rises in San Joaquin town
The people of San Joaquin and nearby barangays need not go to Guimbal or Iloilo City for their hospital needs anymore as the town already has its very own hospital to cater to their needs.
The San Joaquin Community Hospital located about a kilometer away from the town proper was inaugurated yesterday with Department of Health regional director Ariel Valencia, Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) chief Dr. Jose Mari Fermin, and town officials as guests.
The San Joaquin Community Hospital, which initially has a 10-bed capacity, will be under the management and supervision of the WVMC.
Dr. Fermin said the hospital will start as a mother and child hospital with facilities for delivery room, and soon operating room, X-Ray room, and laboratory room.
Fermin said the hospital was primarily established to address the concern on the town’s high infant mortality rate.
However, he said after two or three years another building could be put up for adults in order to expand the services of the hospital.
“We are looking into a sustainable, self-sufficient hospital with accredited facilities in the future,” Fermin said.
San Joaquin Mayor Ninfa Garin said the establishment of hospital in San Joaquin has been in the works since the late 80s when her husband Oscar Garin first became congressman.
“We are very happy that we realized our dream of having our very own hospital. Incidentally, we inaugurate this facility in time with our town’s centennial anniversary,” Mayor Garin said.
Even if the hospital will be under the WVMC, Mayor Garin vowed full support to the hospital in terms of infrastructure and personnel.
Mayor Garin credited the realization of the hospital project to her daughter-in-law First District Rep. Jeanette Garin who lobbied with national officials concerned to make it a reality.
“This will be a very big help to our people. It will lessen their expenses when they need hospital services and it will be easy for them to seek the needed medical attention from our doctors and nurses,” Mayor Garin said.
