Children’s hospital pushed in Liloan

CEBU, Philippines —  Apart from his proposed bill which seeks to upgrade the Provincial Hospital in Danao City into a medical center, Cebu Fifth District Representative Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco has also sought to establish a children's hospital in the Municipality of Liloan.

Frasco introduced House Bill No. 8274 which seeks for the establishment of the 200-bed capacity Liloan Children's Hospital under the direct supervision of the Department of Health (DOH).

Under the proposed bill, the children's hospital will be specialized on the health care of children, prenatal testing, pediatrics care, nutrition services, immunization services, education classes for parenting, and children's health awareness.

As a specialized institution, Frasco said the hospital will not only serve the pediatric patientsfrom Liloan itself but will also cater those coming from the different localities in the fifth district and the rest of northern Cebu.

This as he emphasized the country's commitment under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to reduce child mortality, improve mental health, and combat other women's and children's diseases.

"The establishment of the Liloan Children's Hospital as proposed herein is geared towards the attainment of such [a] goal within the municipality," said Frasco.

The bill provides that the DOH will provide funding for the establishment and operation of the LCH and its Secretaryhas to includesupport for the capital outlays of the said hospital under the department's subsidy program.

The municipality currently runs the Liloan Community Emergency Services Center (LCMES) which was established in June 2012during Frasco’s term as mayor, and other private facilities.

However, being a first class municipality in Cebu Province with a projected population of more than 150,000 in the year 2021, Liloan,currently does not have any hospital which is specialized on pediatric concerns. – GMR (FREEMAN)