SM Foundation and BDO Foundation turn over renovated health center

MANILA, Philippines - SM Foundation collaborated with BDO Foundation to renovate the San Juan Health Center in Bacolod City. It was inaugurated and turned over recently and is now the newest and the 72nd Felicidad Sy Center.  Located 50 meters away from SM City Bacolod, the San Juan Health Center serves eight barangays comprising 956 families. Its doctors and medical staff attend from 50 to 70 patients daily, most of them children.

The health center’s renovation took two months to complete.  The reception and triage area has been transformed into a modern reception and triage area with a reception nook, cabinets, and record-keeping compartment while the old records room was converted into a Felicidad Sy Wellness Center for the Elderly where the elderly can relax and enjoy each other’s company.  There is also an activity center for children.

A more spacious and well-equipped room, the Consultation Area, which also serves as a pre- and post-natal check-up room, is furnished with new curtains to provide privacy to OB patients.  SM Foundation and BDO Foundation provided the area with a new refrigerator as storage for the vaccines, a drop light to keep the babies warm, a pediatric crib, an infant weighing scale, a consultation table, and an emergency dressing cart. It also has a breastfeeding corner. A complete dental facility has likewise been provided.

BDO volunteers from the BDO Community Builders spent weekends helping in the renovation.  BDO funds that financed the renovation were generated from the “Share Gift  Check” fund drive for health advocacy, a donation gift check product available in BDO branches nationwide which interested donors can purchase.

Among those present during the inauguration and turnover ceremonies were: Bacolod City Mayor  Evelio R. Leonardia; BDO Foundation president. Maureen Abelardo; SM Foundation executive director for health and medical programs Connie Angeles; SM Bacolod mall manager George Anthony R. Jardiolin; and Bacolod City Health Office chief Salome G. Biñas, MD. They were joined by Bacolod City councilors, barangay captains, and health office staff.

Simultaneous with the inauguration, a medical mission was also conducted with volunteer doctors and dentists from the local government unit attending to 867 patients while SM mall administrative staff and barangay health workers served as pharmacy volunteers.