The Provincial Government of Pangasinan under the leadership of Governor Amado I. Espino III held the blessing and inauguration of the Urdaneta District Hospital (UDH) Dialysis Center on March 17.

The dialysis center, which is equipped with 10 units of high-quality apparatus, intends to provide medical assistance to Pangasinenses with renal failure especially to patients living in the 5th district and 4th district of Pangasinan.

The dialysis center has two sections: one for COVID patients and the other for non-COVID patients.

The blessing and inauguration of the said facility was led by 5th District Board Member Rosary Gracia Perez-Tababa, 5th District Board Member Nicholi Jan Louie Sison, 4th District Board Member Jeremy Agerico B. Rosario, who chairs the Committee on Health of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, UDH OIC-Chief Arnulfo Olivar, Provincial Health Officer II Anna Ma. Teresa S. De Guzman and Provincial Information Officer Orpheus M. Velasco.

Board Member Tababa, who represented Governor Espino, underscored that the provincial government aims to unburden lives of financially-challenged Pangasinenses with renal failure through the establishment of dialysis center.

“Ito ay dugtong ng kanilang buhay pero hindi man natin totally maibibigay sa kanila, ang mahalaga, economically ay mas makagagaan ito dahil hindi na sila kailangang bumiyahe,” said BM Tababa.

In his speech, BM Rosario noted that the dream of establishing dialysis facilities in the province was a brainchild project of former governor Amado T. Espino Jr. and is pursued and completed by his successor, Governor Pogi.

“This is a dream that started during the stint of former Governor Amado T. Espino Jr… the former governor said that it is not about the monetary consideration and this is now the demand of the time,” said BM Rosario.

The dialysis center at UDH is the second facility of its kind in the province under a provincial government-run hospital, with the first dialysis facility established many years ago at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH) in San Carlos City during the term of then Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.

PHO Chief De Guzman said that the inauguration of dialysis center is very timely during this pandemic to give medical assistance to those COVID-19 patients who also suffer from infectious diseases, such as hepatitis.

“Sa ngayon ay napapanahon ito dahil dito po sa laban natin sa COVID-19 pandemic, marami po sa mga kababayan natin na nagda-dialysis na limitado ang access sa iba’t-ibang pribado at iba pang dialysis center,” Dr. De Guzman added.

The PHO chief also noted that the dialysis center is all set to operate, but still awaiting for the occupancy permit before opening its doors to Pangasinenses.

UDH OIC-Chief Olivar also assured that the medical personnel who will operate the said molecular laboratory, to include internal medicine doctors, four nurses, two technical personnel and two administrative personnel are well-trained.

“Itong serbisyo ay para sa mga tao na indigent, sa mga financially-challenged patients na kailangan talaga nila na magkaroon ng regular dialysis,” he said.

It was noted that the provincial government also eyes to add more apparatus and employ more medical personnel who will man the facility and accommodate more patients.

Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Melvyn Bufete officiated the blessing of the dialysis center prior to the brief inauguration ceremony.

/Shiella Mae C. De Guzman (Photos by Jin Perez)