MANILA, Philippines - Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe will lead the inauguration today of the Aurora Memorial Hospital in Reserva, Baler, Aurora.
The Aurora Memorial Hospital, which cost approximately ¥1.09 billion (approximately P509 million), is funded under Japan’s Grant Aid Program. The hospital has a capacity of 50 beds with new medical equipment such as X-ray machine, neonatal ICU, elevating it into a Level-2 hospital in Baler.
Shortages of medical facilities and human resources in Aurora province are more serious than the rest of the Philippines, and as a result, its infant and maternal mortality rates in 2002 were the highest in Region III. This new hospital will help address these difficulties and improve medical services for the communities in the province, as well as support the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, especially in relation to pregnant women and children who will be provided with better health care.
It also conforms to the Department of Health’s “Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (Universal Health Care)” program.
The Aurora provincial government has a plan to upgrade this hospital to a level-4 hospital, which will qualify it as a teaching and training hospital for the University of the Philippines Manila - School of Health Sciences (UPM-SHS). This will help increase the number of health professionals working and practicing in Aurora.
The government of Japan has also assigned one Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer nurse to assist in the management and operation of the Aurora Memorial Hospital.
For many decades, Japan has provided unwavering support to various projects for enhancing the health and welfare of individuals as well as for strengthening the health system in the local areas.
Japan is the Philippines’ largest source of ODA (official development assistance) and has been a long-time friend and partner in nationwide socio-economic development.