Bong Go attends turnover of Super Health Center in Baganga, Davao Oriental

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go attended the blessing and turnover of a new Super Health Center in Barangay Dapnan, Baganga, Davao Oriental, on Saturday, 24 October, the Daily Tribune reported.

Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, pushed for funding for the facility. The center is intended to let residents get medical consultations, laboratory services and other basic care without having to travel to faraway hospitals.

According to the report, the Dapnan center is one of 16 Super Health Center projects in Davao Oriental that Go has supported. A day earlier, on 23 October, the senator visited another Super Health Center in San Isidro to check on its condition and operations.

Go said that stronger primary healthcare at the community level could help catch illnesses early and cut down on unnecessary hospital visits. "Mas maganda kung maagapan," he said, stressing the value of residents getting checkups, laboratory tests, medicine and a doctor's attention before their conditions become serious.

He also urged residents to use their local center for checkups, noting that doctors and nurses would be available there.

The senator acknowledged the role of barangay health workers in monitoring residents' health, supporting community programs and helping patients get government medical assistance. His team handed out grocery packs, shirts, pens and sports equipment to 150 barangay health workers during the event.

Go called for continued cooperation among national agencies, local officials and health workers to improve public health services, the Daily Tribune said.