KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) marked a significant milestone yesterday with the groundbreaking ceremony for its new Health and Wellness Clinic in Barangay Paraiso, City of Koronadal. The event was led by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr. and the Infectious Disease Program Team, alongside notable local officials like Vice Governor Arthur Pingoy Jr. and Dr. Irvin Luntao, Chairperson of the Committee on Health.
This new facility will feature an HIV/AIDS Primary Care Facility, expected to serve approximately 1,800 clients from the province and the wider region. The clinic will also house a public health laboratory to provide essential services and testing for various diseases.
“This facility will rise as a primary care facility for HIV and a public health laboratory that will cover examinations under disease prevention and control as well as elimination,” said Infectious Disease Program Coordinator John Ardo Codilla.
He emphasized the clinic will handle a broad spectrum of health issues, including HIV confirmatory testing, malaria, schistosomiasis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), cryptococcal meningitis, and infectious diarrhoea, among other emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
Engineer Frederick Soriano oversees the construction. The project will be completed by December.
“The total construction cost is P20 million, with an additional P5 million allocated for furniture and fixtures,” he added.
The new Health and Wellness Clinic is expected to significantly bolster the province’s capacity to manage and treat infectious diseases, contributing to overall health and well-being of South Cotabato’s residents.
