TACLOBAN CITY – Access to life-saving kidney treatment in Northern Samar is set to improve with the upcoming construction of a hemodialysis center at the Allen District Hospital (ADH), following a groundbreaking ceremony led by provincial officials.
The event, held on the hospital grounds in Allen town, was graced by 2nd District Representative Governor Edwin Ongchuan, Vice Governor Clarence Dato, Board Member Arturo Dubongco Jr., and members of the Manook family, who generously donated the land for the facility. Also present were ADH Chief Dr. Joseph Cary Tomada, along with hospital officials and staff.
The facility is part of the provincial government’s plan to establish three dialysis centers across Northern Samar to meet the growing demand for treatment, especially in underserved areas.
The Allen center will primarily serve patients from the Balicuatro area, which includes the towns of Allen, Lavezares, San Isidro, and Victoria, as well as the island municipalities of San Antonio, Capul, and San Vicente.
At present, the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital (NSPH) is the only public health facility offering dialysis services in the province. Due to limited capacity, many patients are forced to seek treatment at private clinics or travel to nearby cities such as Calbayog or Tacloban.
Another dialysis center is planned for the G.B. Tan Memorial Hospital in Laoang, which will cater to patients from the Pacific area. These initiatives aim to decentralize access to dialysis treatment and reduce the financial and physical burden on patients and their families.
“This facility is one of the three dialysis centers the provincial government aims to operate to adequately respond to the needs of our people,” the provincial government said in a statement. “We also hope to add more dialysis machines at the NSPH to serve the central towns.”
The construction of these centers is in line with Governor Harris Ongchuan’s administration agenda, which prioritizes healthcare, along with capacity building, climate resilience, and economic opportunities.
Once completed, the new dialysis center is expected to significantly improve access to affordable, quality care for patients in Northern Samar battling chronic kidney disease.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
