In line with the week-long celebration of Dr. Pio Valenzuela’s 148^th Birth Anniversary, additional health stations located at Lower Tibagan and Duhat, both in Barangay Ugong, were inaugurated, July 12.

During her speech, Vice Mayor Lorie emphasized the need for basic healthcare and preventive measures against childhood diseases. She also asked the residents to welcome the health workers and treat them like family members. She added that everyone should help maintain these facilities so that more people would benefit from them.

Congressman Eric Martinez and Mayor REX Gatchalian echoed each other’s sentiments that through the coordination of all city officials, it has become easier for them to initiate complementary projects that ultimately benefit all Valenzuelanos.

Mayor REX added that since not all residents can travel to 3S Centers in their barangay, the government opted to make healthcare within their reach. Lower Tibagan and Duhat residents are not the only ones who would benefit from this project but also the residents in neighboring communities and other nearby barangays as well.

The mayor also announced plans to convert the 2^nd floor of Duhat Health Station into a daycare center so that children would not have to travel far to learn.

According to the City Engineer’s Office, the buildings were strategically designed and located in distant areas where health care is not readily accessible so that these services would be available to more Valenzuelanos. Cost in transportation would be greatly lessened for residents because the stations are situated in densely populated areas in Ugong.

The health stations’ floor area ranges from 120 to 150 square meters. It also features facilities and services available in existing health stations, like medical and dental consultation, laboratory services, TB-DOTS facilities, midwife station, pre-natal care and post-partum care.

Staff for both health stations are comprised of doctors, nurses, midwife, dentist, medical staff and barangay health workers.

The city government has been starting to renovate health stations into World Health Organization (WHO) and Department of Health (DOH)-compliant since 2014, with 44 health stations renovated or relocated while 4 brand new ones were constructed. With the addition of the health stations in Lower Tibagan and Duhat, Valenzuela City now has 50 health stations that cater to the needs of Valenzuelanos.  Three of these health stations are located in Barangay Ugong.

Several government officials were present at the inauguration of Lower Tibagan Health Station and Duhat Health Station including City Health Office OIC Dr. Jaime Exconde, Punong Barangays, Maximo de Gula (Parada) and Eduardo Nazar (Ugong), 2^nd district Congressman Eric Martinez, Vice-Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja and City Mayor REX Gatchalian.