Bontoc, Mountain Province – The Bontoc Municipal Health Office (MHO) has expanded its healthcare services following the acquisition of a new automated clinical chemistry analyzer.
The chemistry analyzer can run a test for hypertension (lipid profile, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride), renal or kidney function (blood urea nitrogen and creatinine), and liver function.
With the newly procured automated chemistry analyzer in place at the MHO-Laboratory, Medical Technologist II Cecilia Stella Matiw mentioned that additional services which can be availed of by clients with corresponding fees include a test for blood sugar, glucose, lipid profile, and kidney function test. These are aside from the services it has been providing to clients including microscopy, Hematology, Serology, and Microbiology. She assured that clients can get the result of their test within the day.
Other services of the MHO include maternal and childcare, immunization, nutrition counseling, communicable and non-communicable disease prevention and control, reproductive health and family planning, and tuberculosis prevention and control.
Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., mentioned that the purchase of a chemistry analyzer came in timely as the MHO-Laboratory has earlier been issued a license to operate as a primary and non-institution-based care facility by the Department of Health (DOH) valid from January 1, 2023, until December 23, 2023.
He remarked that all these undertakings allow for a more efficient and affordable approach to improving and promoting public health which is one of his administration’s priorities. Also, the automated chemistry analyzer is expected to drastically reduce waiting time for clients and increase the number of the public being served by the Bontoc MHO-Laboratory.
“We believe that ensuring the health and wellness of our community is essential. Thus, we have to provide the most inclusive, accessible, affordable, and efficient approach to enhancing people’s health,” Mayor Tudlong emphasized.
The blessing of the new automated chemistry analyzer and the MHO-Laboratory was officiated by Rev. Lucrecia Turtem of the Cathedral of All Saints on March 6, 2023.
Also present are personnel from the MHO headed by Municipal Health Officer Dr. Diga Kay Gomez, Sangguniang Bayan member Benedict Odsey II, Development Management Officer V Michael Capuyan, Jr., from the DOH-Provincial Office, and some employees of the Bontoc LGU. **/Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay, Bontoc LGU
