ITOGON, Benguet – Some ten personnel of the municipal government-owned dialysis center are now undergoing a 5-week training in a similar facility in Naguilian, La Union to ensure their readiness for the projected full blast operation of the center by next month.
Mayor Bernard S. Waclin said the municipal government decided to move back the opening of the Itogon dialysis center in sitio Malasin, barangay Ucab next month for the personnel to complete the prescribed 5-week training to ensure the smooth and continuous operation of the facility to serve the increasing number of kidney patients from the municipality.
He claimed the staff of the facility will have to undergo the required 5-week training to familiarize themselves with hemodialysis treatment provided to the kidney patients to prevent the occurrence of untoward incidents that may affect the continuous operation of the center.
The municipal chief executive pointed out that the required units of equipment and dialysis machines are already in place in the facility to be complimented by the 8 nurses and 2 technicians now undergoing training before the full blast operation of the center.
The put up of the dialysis center is one of the significant accomplishments of the administration of Mayor Waclin after assuming his post as the mayor on June 30, 2022 following his election into office during the May 9, 2022 synchronized national and local elections.
He said that the center will cater not only to the dialysis treatment needs of local residents but it will also be open for other kidney patients from nearby communities, provided that there will be available beds and open schedules for their treatment.
The Itogon dialysis center will be initially operating on a 12-bed capacity based on the license to operate that is being processed with the health department.
Mayor Waclin expressed his gratitude to the various individuals and companies that extended their all-out support to the establishment and eventual operation of the Itogon dialysis center as they contributed in reducing the investment of the municipal government to operationalize the facility.
Among the organizations that pooled their resources to help the municipal government establish the facility include the Member Church of God International (MCGI), the San Roque Power Corporation, the Itogon Suyoc Resources, Inc. (ISRI) and Benguet Rep. Eric Yap.
Waclin envisions the expansion of the facility depending on the outcome of its initial operations to help lessen the burden of dialysis patients’ families considering that efforts will be done to ensure that the treatment will be free for those from the locality.
He added that the municipal government will try to access support from other government agencies to sustain the envisioned free dialysis treatment for the residents because the health of the people is important in ensuring their productivity.
