KOICA and World Vision hand over newly constructed health facilities

Jasper M. Maglinab, Advocacy Specialist – KOICA MNCH Project
Genesis Jeff Lamigo, Communications Manager, WVDF

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and World Vision handed over the newly constructed and renovated Barangay Health Stations and Health Centers in Leyte and Eastern Samar as one of the commitments of the KOICA Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Project to upgrade the quality of maternal, newborn, and child health services in the project areas.

The hand-over, held last Nov. 25, 2022, included newly renovated Barangay Health Station in Barangay Burak, Tolosa Leyte and newly constructed Barangay Health Center in Barangay Bulod, Sta. Fe. Present during the ceremony were KOICA Philippines Country Director Mr. Kim Eunsub, KOICA Philippines Assistant Country Director Ms. Ahrum Lee, World Vision Korea Vice President for International Ministry Soonyoung Choi, World Vision Philippines National Director Rommel V. Fuerte, Operations Director Ajab-Aram R. Macapagat, Finance Director Zuzee Sabare, Project Director Jihwan Jeon, and Project Manager Bonifacio M. Calapan.

The recipient Local Government Units (LGUs) led by barangay and municipal officials of Tolosa and Sta. Fe in their message of acceptance expressed their great appreciation and gratitude to KOICA and World Vision for its generosity to their community, they pledged to take good care of the facility and ensure that the catchment barangays will benefit the services committed along with the improved health facility.

In Eastern Samar, the project handed over newly renovated Barangay Health Stations to the LGUs of Taft and Quinapondan, and newly constructed Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facility in Gen. Macarthur.

During the hand-over ceremony, the Project Director Jihwan Jeon and World Vision Philippines Finance Director Zuzee Sabare expressed their heartfelt thanks and sincere appreciation for the partnership and deep commitment of the LGUs to partner with KOICA and World Vision in its mission to improve the maternal and child health care services in the partner municipalities.

Department of Health (DOH) Region 8 representative Dr. Milagros Salvacion Bolito expressed her full support and willingness to partner with KOICA, World Vision, and the local governments in its aim to improve and provide quality maternal services in the Eastern Visayas region.

Motivated and inspired to serve their communities, the week-long ceremonies were also graced by barangay health workers, barangay nutrition scholars, rural health unit medical workers, members of the communities, and LGUs. Thirteen more health facilities are expected to be handed over to the target beneficiaries and targeted to be licensed as Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) facilities by DOH.